My Mistress' Eyes by William Shakespeare really showed how the imperfections of a couple make a true relationship. Also, it shows how a man looks to his woman. Throughout pretty much the entire poem, the first twelve lines, the speaker is addressing how his girl is not perfect. The tone almost comes across as insulting to her. "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun" , "I have seen roses (of different colors), red and white, but no such roses see I in her cheeks" , "And in some perfumes is there more delight than in the breath that from my mistress reeks" (Shakespeare, 885). I do not see how those would be compliments to any woman. I know I would be extremely offended.
"And yet," (Shakespeare, 885), there is a shift in the poem, right at the very end. The last two lines reveal the speakers reason for basically putting down his mistress. He says that despite the many faults and imperfects, he still could not compare her to anyone else. He is completely drawn to her alone. This last line is a bit ironic. He expresses that he can't compare her to anyone, and yet, he had been comparing her to anything and everything the entire first twelve lines of the poem.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Barbie Doll
Marge Piercy's poem Barbie Doll was extremely depressing. It portrayed how our society kills children physically and emotionally. Although we hear everyday that another person, (child, teen, anyone), dies of an eating disorder or some other emotional disease of the mind. Have we ever wondered what is the problem? Could it be our societies portrayal of how we ought look, act, and sound? Piercy portrays this view in a very direct and blunt way.
The poem shows how the society this young girl lived in expected her to live as a doll. She was supposed to give up her human qualities. From a young age, she was looked down upon for having a healthy human appetite and a natural human figure. By constantly being reminded of her "big nose and fat legs" and her "fat nose and thick legs" (Piercy, 835) this young girl began to develop extremely bad and dangerous habits. The town was essentially controlling her life just as a doll is controlled by everyone else. They didn't stop until they turned her exactly into a doll. With this new transformation came the lack of life that made her most resemble a Barbie Doll. By "cutting off her nose and her legs" (Piercy, 836), she killed herself trying to fit in. "Doesn't she look pretty? everyone said" (Piercy, 836). That is just down right cruel. The girl finally looked the part that everyone was expecting her to play. Too bad that this new woman couldn't even be there to hear the praises of those she desperately wanted to hear.
The poem shows how the society this young girl lived in expected her to live as a doll. She was supposed to give up her human qualities. From a young age, she was looked down upon for having a healthy human appetite and a natural human figure. By constantly being reminded of her "big nose and fat legs" and her "fat nose and thick legs" (Piercy, 835) this young girl began to develop extremely bad and dangerous habits. The town was essentially controlling her life just as a doll is controlled by everyone else. They didn't stop until they turned her exactly into a doll. With this new transformation came the lack of life that made her most resemble a Barbie Doll. By "cutting off her nose and her legs" (Piercy, 836), she killed herself trying to fit in. "Doesn't she look pretty? everyone said" (Piercy, 836). That is just down right cruel. The girl finally looked the part that everyone was expecting her to play. Too bad that this new woman couldn't even be there to hear the praises of those she desperately wanted to hear.
A Jury of Her Peers
All throughout Susan Glaspell's A Jury of Her Peers there was a discrete difference between the men and the woman shown by their actions and their attitudes. Then men made it obvious that they felt superior and mroe intelligent to the women. They make it sound like the women are only as good as their homes are clean."Dirty towles! Not much of a housekeeper, would you say, ladies?" (Glaspell, 412). All of the men had this condescending tone in their voice; the county attorney had the most. This man was especially facetious in his last line in the short story, "Well Henry, at least we found out that she was not going to quilt it." (Glaspell, 426). These men could not take seriously the fact that Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters had found anything in the kitchen, let alone the exact motive Minnie Wright had for killing her husband.
This is where we saw the biggest difference in the characters. While the men went upstairs and outside to the barn to look for solid evidence and motives as to why Minnie killed her husband, the women were rummaging through the kitchen just trying to understand her. They were more concerned with how she had been treated over the twenty five years and why after all that time she felt the need to kill her husband. Because all women at that time were treated with inferiority, they could understand why Minnie came off the way she did. Then when they found the dead canary that had obviously been strangled by John Wright, they understood why Minnie snapped. Minnie had been isolated from everything. She had been locked up in that house forced to fulfill the duties of an expected housewife. Her husband had killed her passion of singing and had not given her any children; therefore, when he killed her only love, that bird, she went off in a rage. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters could understand where she had been coming from and continually lied to their husbands about what they had been doing. Mrs. Hale even went to the extent of hiding any evidence of Minnie's true motive. They stuck up for their kind, their female gender. If they did not, who would?
This is where we saw the biggest difference in the characters. While the men went upstairs and outside to the barn to look for solid evidence and motives as to why Minnie killed her husband, the women were rummaging through the kitchen just trying to understand her. They were more concerned with how she had been treated over the twenty five years and why after all that time she felt the need to kill her husband. Because all women at that time were treated with inferiority, they could understand why Minnie came off the way she did. Then when they found the dead canary that had obviously been strangled by John Wright, they understood why Minnie snapped. Minnie had been isolated from everything. She had been locked up in that house forced to fulfill the duties of an expected housewife. Her husband had killed her passion of singing and had not given her any children; therefore, when he killed her only love, that bird, she went off in a rage. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters could understand where she had been coming from and continually lied to their husbands about what they had been doing. Mrs. Hale even went to the extent of hiding any evidence of Minnie's true motive. They stuck up for their kind, their female gender. If they did not, who would?
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Hunters in the Snow
In Tobias Wolff's Hunters in the Snow it was hard to pick one character who fully deserved sympathy. Each character had many flaws, yet each seemed to have elements of sympathy or pity. Personally, I felt the most pity for Tub. He seemed to get the short end of the stick throughout the story until right towards the end. He seemed to be left out, the butt of Frank and Kenny's jokes, and the one they left behind. "Tub was having trouble getting through the fences. Frank and Kenny could have helped him; they could have lifted up on the top wire and stepped on the bottom wire, but they didn't" (Wolff,189). On top of not helping Tub through the forest when they could recognize that he was struggling, they made fun of his weight and his endeavor to lose weight. However, my view of him shifted when he shot Kenny and they left him in the truck.
I also felt bits of sympathy for Frank. It is common to feel for the man that is going through a divorce. But then again, I felt the least amount of pity for this man because of what he professed to Tub. "this so-called babaysitter, this so-called fifteen year old has more in her little finger than most of us have in our entire bodies" (Wolff, 198). I do not have any sympathy for any man who leaves his wife for his children's baby sitter who is a minor of only fifteen years old.
I felt no sympathy for Kenny throughout the entire first three quarters of the short story. He seemed to be a jerk to Tub all the time and seemed to have the least amount of patience with him. Then, when he shot the dog, I lost all sympathy if I had any at all. By the end though, I realized that he had been treated very poorly by Tub and Frank. He had been accidentally shot but shot none the less. He was wounded and needed a hospital, yet the two other men didn't seem in any hurry to take him to get help. Not only that, but he was stuck laying in the bed of a truck during blizzard like conditions.
I also felt bits of sympathy for Frank. It is common to feel for the man that is going through a divorce. But then again, I felt the least amount of pity for this man because of what he professed to Tub. "this so-called babaysitter, this so-called fifteen year old has more in her little finger than most of us have in our entire bodies" (Wolff, 198). I do not have any sympathy for any man who leaves his wife for his children's baby sitter who is a minor of only fifteen years old.
I felt no sympathy for Kenny throughout the entire first three quarters of the short story. He seemed to be a jerk to Tub all the time and seemed to have the least amount of patience with him. Then, when he shot the dog, I lost all sympathy if I had any at all. By the end though, I realized that he had been treated very poorly by Tub and Frank. He had been accidentally shot but shot none the less. He was wounded and needed a hospital, yet the two other men didn't seem in any hurry to take him to get help. Not only that, but he was stuck laying in the bed of a truck during blizzard like conditions.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Othello
Shakespeare's character,Othello, in his play Othello the Moor of Venice goes through an incredibly large transformation thought the course of this play. His cool, calm, and collected demeanor at the beginning shatters by the end. Othello's tragic flaw becomes his jealousy. One could even argue that his excessive love towards Desdemona's was his hubris. Because he loved her so much, he became insanely outraged to the point of seizures when he found that she had been cheating in him. This jealousy rose within him to the point where he couldn't allow that calm Othello back inside him ever again. The calm Othello would have asked Desdemona's from the beginning what was happening and would have believed her when she denied it. Iago's manipulation of Othello exemplifies the holding effects passion and love have on people. Othello couldn't believe that the woman he had fallen so madly in love with had betrayed him. This love is what. Ironically, forces him to kill his lovely wife. "I will not kill thy unprepared spirit. No, heaven forfend. I would not kill thy soul" (Shakespeare, 1450,V.ii.31-32). He still cares enough about Desdemona's that eh doesn't want to harm her soul.
Desdemona
As Shakespeare's Othello the Moor of Venice progresses we see Desdemona remain a flat character. As a reader, I feel much sympathy for her. She has no idea of what is being said behind her back.one could tell that she can pick up clues that Othello is a bit perturbed by whatever she did by the different way he acts toward her. It would be devastating having a husband who was so loving who then all of a sudden treats one as a servant and wants one dead. Othello doesn't even try to get her side of the story to see that she would never do such a thing until after he allowed Iago to get inside his head. Shakespeare portrays Desdemona as completely sweet, honest, and a bit naive. She does what Othello asks because she has unconditional love towards him. I thought it was ironic how even on her death bed, she blames herself for her death because it must be the truth if Othello thought it. "Commend me to my kind lord" (Shakespeare, 1453, V.ii.124). Even here, she speaks kind words of her beloved husband who just tried to strangle her.
We see Desdemona's true character as we hear Emilia and her discussing what kind of wives they should be. She becomes so flabbergasted that "there are women who do abuse their husbands in such gross kind (cheat on them)" (Shakespeare, 1444,IV.iii.60-61). The fact that's he gets so upset that there are women like that, she shows that she is not a strumpet as Iago portrays.
We see Desdemona's true character as we hear Emilia and her discussing what kind of wives they should be. She becomes so flabbergasted that "there are women who do abuse their husbands in such gross kind (cheat on them)" (Shakespeare, 1444,IV.iii.60-61). The fact that's he gets so upset that there are women like that, she shows that she is not a strumpet as Iago portrays.
Minor Characters in Acts IV and V
As Shakespeare's Othello the Moor of Venice progresses, we see minor characters becoming more important. For example, we see Bianca becoming a more prominent character through her random small actions. Bianca plays a huge part when she goes to see Cassio about the handkerchief. By her showing up, she plays along well with Iago's plan. The handkerchief becomes the ocular proof that Othello wanted. Also by Bianca saying, "a likely piece of work that you should find in your chamber and not not know who left it there! this is a minx's token, and I must take out the work? There, give it to your hobbyhorse" (Shakespeare, 1431, IV,ii.143-146), Othello, in the background, thought she meant Desdemona for sure. Because of the way Iago has portrayed him, Cassio seems like the man has a lot of women. Othello, then, was not surprised by one of his mistresses showing up.
Roderigo also takes on a much larger role in these acts. He is the first character to stand up to and doubt Iago. He starts to see how sly and villainous Iago truly is. It's been evident to us as the readers that Iago treats him as lowly and subservient. Iago speaks in prose when conversing with him because he doesn't feel he has to speak as sophisticated as iambic pentameter. He makes Roderigo do all the dirty work and took all his money! Roderigo goes ahead and tries to kill Cassio as Iago asks of him, but then later on reveals to the rest of the characters the true man Iago is. Roderigomcouldnbe considered dynamic as well.
Roderigo also takes on a much larger role in these acts. He is the first character to stand up to and doubt Iago. He starts to see how sly and villainous Iago truly is. It's been evident to us as the readers that Iago treats him as lowly and subservient. Iago speaks in prose when conversing with him because he doesn't feel he has to speak as sophisticated as iambic pentameter. He makes Roderigo do all the dirty work and took all his money! Roderigo goes ahead and tries to kill Cassio as Iago asks of him, but then later on reveals to the rest of the characters the true man Iago is. Roderigomcouldnbe considered dynamic as well.
Act V: Emilia
As Act V of Shakespear's Othello the Moor of Venice progresses toward the end of the plot, we see some exceptional shifts in some of the characters' demeanors. The biggest character change that I saw was in Emilia. From the beginning of the play, Emilia's character is seen as subordinate to the others. Iago was a terrible husband to her which was evident from his mysogyny. He disrespected all women let alone his own wife. He treated her as his property, and she was to do what he told her to. She was even considered a sort of maid or servant of Desdemona; although, Desdemona thought of Emilia as more as a friend than as a subservient. Throughout all of this, Emilia's character is portrayed as a quiet woman who does what is expected of her without fault. However, by the end of Act V, Emilia changes drastically.
First, Emilia comes back to check on Othello and Desdemona even though Othello clearly told her to leave and stay away for the night. Then, after Othello has harmed Desdemona to the point of death, Emilia realizes that all of this was Iago's doing. She realizes that by her giving that hankerchief to Iago, Desdemona's death was finally sentenced. From then on, she shifts her focus toward her husband. She throws Iago under the bus and expresses the true man he is. "You told a lie, an odius, damned lie, upon my soul, a lie, a wicked lie!" (Shakespeare, 1455, V.ii.179-180). Then after Iago demands her to stop talking, (just as he had in the very first few scenes), instead of backing down, she says, "I will not charm my tongue, I am bound to speak. My mistress here lies murdered in her bed!" (Shakespeare, 1455,V.ii.183-184). She then goes on to tell of how exactly Iago was the one to blaim for the entire manipulation of the events. She trully came alive by the end of the play.
First, Emilia comes back to check on Othello and Desdemona even though Othello clearly told her to leave and stay away for the night. Then, after Othello has harmed Desdemona to the point of death, Emilia realizes that all of this was Iago's doing. She realizes that by her giving that hankerchief to Iago, Desdemona's death was finally sentenced. From then on, she shifts her focus toward her husband. She throws Iago under the bus and expresses the true man he is. "You told a lie, an odius, damned lie, upon my soul, a lie, a wicked lie!" (Shakespeare, 1455, V.ii.179-180). Then after Iago demands her to stop talking, (just as he had in the very first few scenes), instead of backing down, she says, "I will not charm my tongue, I am bound to speak. My mistress here lies murdered in her bed!" (Shakespeare, 1455,V.ii.183-184). She then goes on to tell of how exactly Iago was the one to blaim for the entire manipulation of the events. She trully came alive by the end of the play.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Act III- 2
Act Shakespeare's Othello the Moor of Venice progresses, we can see how big of an effect Iago has on Othello. He was able to easily plant the seed of doubt in Othello's mind that Desdemona is cheating on him with Cassio. Iago does this gradually by interjecting hints of his disapproval of their friendship. Iago tries to make more out of the situation when Desdemona and Cassio were talking by saying, "Ha! I like not that" (Shakespeare, 1405, Act III.iii.35). He also tries to make it sound like the entire time Othello and Desdemona have been together and from the time they began courting, Cassio and Desdemona were having secret relations. "Did Michael Cassio, when you wooed my lady, Know of your love?... I did not think he had been aquainted with her" (Shakespeare, 1407, Act III.iii.95-100). Iago tries to play off his sly tricks by saying that they were just paranoid thoughts. He proclaims that his thoughts could be and probably are wrong.
I found it extremely surprising that Othello fully believed Iago. He let this worry fill his mind and cause him to believe the worst in Desdemona. How could he have changed his mind so quickly when he was jsut so infatuated with her? Maybe it was just as easy to fall out of love with her as it was to fall in love with her.
I found it extremely surprising that Othello fully believed Iago. He let this worry fill his mind and cause him to believe the worst in Desdemona. How could he have changed his mind so quickly when he was jsut so infatuated with her? Maybe it was just as easy to fall out of love with her as it was to fall in love with her.
Act III- 1
Some of the characters in Shakespeare's play Othello the Moor of Venice seem rather unimportant. My favorite of these, for example is the clown. This "clown" as it says at the very beginning in the information is Othello's servant. This character brings a bit of humor into the play. In act III, he only appears in scenes 1 and 4. When he does, he seems to aggrivate those around him by his use of humor in serious situations. " 'Dost thou hear, my honest friend?' 'No, I hear not your honest friend, I hear you.' " (Shakespeare, 1403, Act III. i. 19-20). This quote shows that the clown thinks he is hilarious but Cassio does not find it at all appealing. Cassio even gives the clown money to go do his job. The clown also appears in scene 4. After Desdemona asks where Cassio lies (as in where does he sleep), the clown says, " I dare not say he lies anywhere...He's a soldier, and for one to say a soldier lies is stabbing" (Shakespeare, 1419, Act III.iv.1-4). Here, the clown is just trying to mess around with Desdemona. His dialogoue, though, does not seem to serve any purpose.
Another character that comes into play in Act III is Bianca. She is the mistriss of Cassio. Since she hasn't been involved in the plot of the play yet, it seems as if she isn't all that important. However, after a small event that involved Bianca, I believe she will be caught up in the middle of a terrible situation. "Sweet Bianca (Giving her Desdemona's hankerchief)" (Shakespeare, 1425, Act III.iv.173-174). By giving her this hankerchief which caused much fuss between Othello and Desdemona, Bianca was put right in the middle of a dramatic situation.
Another character that comes into play in Act III is Bianca. She is the mistriss of Cassio. Since she hasn't been involved in the plot of the play yet, it seems as if she isn't all that important. However, after a small event that involved Bianca, I believe she will be caught up in the middle of a terrible situation. "Sweet Bianca (Giving her Desdemona's hankerchief)" (Shakespeare, 1425, Act III.iv.173-174). By giving her this hankerchief which caused much fuss between Othello and Desdemona, Bianca was put right in the middle of a dramatic situation.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Act II
One part of Act II in Shakespeare's Othello the Moor of Venice that really stood out to me was what Cassio says when he becomes drunk. "Aye, but, by your leave, not before me. The Lieutenant is to be saved before the Ancient" (Shakespeare, 1394, II.ii.93-95). To me, this quote showed that Cassio was a little arrogant. This was the only spot in these acts that has shown this side of him. It confuses me. Is this pride he exemplifies a normal trait that is just shown through his drunkenness? Or is it just a trait tht comes out when he is drunk and is not a part of him normally? From Cassio beig perceived as such a noble man, it's shocking to me that he could be serious about his thoughts o rankings among God. It does not seem that he feels superior to Iago for the rest of the play.
Also in this act, Iago shows his attitudes toward his wife and all women. He claims that all women ought to just "suckle fools and chronicle small beer" (Shakespeare, 1387, II.i.159). This means that he thinks all women need to just cook, clean, and make babies. He also shows that he is superior to his wife buy telling her that she speaks way too much. In reality, she has no say in anything in her life with Iago as her husband. I even got the hint that he wasn't so attracted to his wife anymore.
Also in this act, Iago shows his attitudes toward his wife and all women. He claims that all women ought to just "suckle fools and chronicle small beer" (Shakespeare, 1387, II.i.159). This means that he thinks all women need to just cook, clean, and make babies. He also shows that he is superior to his wife buy telling her that she speaks way too much. In reality, she has no say in anything in her life with Iago as her husband. I even got the hint that he wasn't so attracted to his wife anymore.
Act I
In the first act of Shakespear's play Othello the Moor of Venice, Iago is portrayed as a very complex character. He isn't necessarily complex in his character traits and in the literary term definition of the word, but has a very strategic plan working within his mind. What I think shows serious situational irony is Iagos whole entire vengeance on Othello. Iago expresses, "I hate the Moor, and it is thought abroad that 'twixt my sheets he's done my office. I know not if it be tre, but I for mere suspicion in that kind will do as if for surety" (Shakespeare, 1382, I.iii.366-370). If this was Iago's only reason for revenge, I found it rather impractical and harsh. However, Iago does these evils out of hatred towards Morroccans, as well. Still, hating someone's race does not give them the right to destroy their livelihood.
Also, I find humor in the fact that Iago keeps beig referred to as "honest'." He is by far the least honest character in this entire play. It is even argued that he is the most dishonest villain! I have to say that so far, I do not see Iago passing Voldemort in the race for best villain.
I do enjoy this play so far. I like the fact that there are many characters. I enjoy story lines that one could tell have been thoroughly thought out. These kinds of plays challenge the reader to really think to try to understand the complex mastermind of Iago.
Also, I find humor in the fact that Iago keeps beig referred to as "honest'." He is by far the least honest character in this entire play. It is even argued that he is the most dishonest villain! I have to say that so far, I do not see Iago passing Voldemort in the race for best villain.
I do enjoy this play so far. I like the fact that there are many characters. I enjoy story lines that one could tell have been thoroughly thought out. These kinds of plays challenge the reader to really think to try to understand the complex mastermind of Iago.
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