The Glass Menagerie: Personal Reflection

I usually end up using one of my blogs to discuss my own opinions of the plays we read so here it goes again. Unique is a word that I would use to describe this play. It is really unorthodox in its styles such as its use of nonrealism as the basis for forming characters and virtually everything. I really never have read a play that implements so much nonrealistic material and then uses this to include and exclude certain details to fit the themes. It actually really is enjoyable to read something so different after having to read the typical Shakespeare works in old, poetic English. It definitely is a relief not constantly struggling to figure out what something means or even symbolizes now. Williams literally tells the reader what everything means and in simple language. It honestly doesn't get much better for me, the student. I'd like to think that the reason I like this play so much isn't because it is so easy to follow, but I do know much of it has to do with that. However, the way this play is unfolding and the relationships among characters has made it even more enjoyable for me as well. I'm really interested to see what happens next as I spend the rest of the night finishing up the reading.

The Glass Menagerie: Realistic vs. Nonrealistic

"The scene is memory and is therefore nonrealistic. Memory takes a lot of poetic license. It omits some details; others are exaggerated..." p. 1235

This play really addresses the difference between realistic and nonrealistic conventions. As directly cited in the quote, the play almost always uses nonrealistic conventions because of its memory-based recollection. Tennessee Williams goes into extraordinary detail in describing the settings. This gives the reader a clear understanding of theme and interpretation of meanings. There really is not much up for debate among symbolism. With these descriptions comes the use of nonrealistic conventions in the play. Realism is totally absent in the play because of the way the story is told and even through Williams' stage directions. I thought this was very interesting considering the unique nature in which this play is narrated. I've really never seen these rare and unconventional styles so often outside of this play. I'm interested to see how Williams continues to utilize these tools to develop the story as well as the characters.

The Glass Menagerie: Theme

"A fragile, unearthly prettiness has come out in Laura; she is like a piece of translucent glass touched by light, given a momentary radiance, not actual, not lasting." p.1263

Already from reading up until scene 7, the notion that brief happiness will end is evident. Laura is a fragile character who, like her character, enjoys fragile things. Playing with her glass ornaments really conveys her personality and who she is. I am starting to recognize a pattern in a theme that brief fragile happiness will eventually shatter. As the description of Laura in the quote illuminates, Laura is like one of her glass ornaments. She is beautiful in the moment, but the description foreshadows that this brief world will come crashing down. Many supports from the text indicate that this will be the case. This thematic message seems to be playing a key role in driving the action of the plot thus far and seems to indicate the outcome of the play to come.

As You Like It: Question 1 (p. 1119)

"He was to imagine me his love, his mistress; and I set him everyday to woo me." III.ii.p.45

This question touches on whether or not the play employs realistic or unrealistic conventions. I think this scene sums up how unrealistic the play really is. It is very unrealistic that Rosalind, the woman Orlando is madly in love with, is able to just dress up as a man and talk to him without any suspicion. If her disguise didn't already give it away, the dialogue would have to force Orlando to recognize her. Rosalind, as her alter ego, is literally teaching Orlando how to treat and act around her. To me, it just seemed way too unrealistic that this could actually happen without Orlando catching on. In addition to this, the fact that Duke Frederick has a change of heart on a whim when talking to a religious man seems very unrealistic as well. It completely changes the play, and the dialogue between them wasn't even in it; it was simply summarized by another character. Because of all these things, I felt that the play was very unrealistic at times which unfortunately led me to lose a lot of interest in it as well.

As You Like It: Comedy vs. Tragedy

Before this play, I thought I was going to be relieved to read something not so depressing. However, that definitely is not the case. I thought I would like the change, but I don't. In this comedy, the plot just really lagged and wasn't exciting at all. At least in tragedies, I tried to figure out who was going to be the last man standing. This comedy just felt far-fetched and uneventful. This is just my opinion, but the comedy "As You Like It" was not funny at all. Comedy really has come a long way over time. I'm glad Shakespeare tried though. There were ironic situations that were somewhat comedic, but to me, I'd rather read a tragedy where it seems like there's so much more plot and substance to it.

As You Like It: Theme (Question 5 p. 1119)

"In brief, he led me to the gentle Duke, who gave me fresh array and entertainment, committing me unto my brother's love." V.iii.p.65

I think for this blog I'm going to use the theme you gave us in class of love heals. In a play that really lacked a true theme and plot, I felt that this was an accurate assignment of a theme to the play. It reoccurs in several cases. For instance, as depicted in the quote, love is used as a healing force between Orlando and Oliver's relationship. In addition to this, it was also able to convert Duke Frederick from a tyrannical Duke to a religious man of God. With all these instances of this occurring, it is obvious Shakespeare was trying to make a point through it. To be honest, I didn't get a whole lot in terms of theme and meaning in this play, but I do think that Shakespeare tried to convey how love is a healing force that fixes broken relationships. It did not have a huge impact on the dramatic experience as a whole but it did impact certain details that were able to drive the action.

Othello Reflective Essay Interactive Blog

  



Many of Shakespeare’s works are viewed today as being universal and timeless pieces of literature. His tragedy, “Othello,” is yet another example of a universal piece of literature that continues to apply generation after generation to all of humanity. The play, “Othello”, remains a cross-cultural and lasting work for many reasons. One aspect of the play that reoccurs throughout various works in literature, films, and even television shows today has been the unique character type of the protagonist. While in many films and books, the protagonist appears to be a heroic and moral character combating some evil opposition, in Othello however, this is not the case. The main character, Iago, lacks moral qualities and is an evil protagonist. This style of character as the protagonist, though rare, can be seen time and time again in modern books whether in the character, Gene, from “A Separate Peace” or even in the movies with the character, Doug, from the motion picture “The Town.” Each of these characters combats the typical notion of a flawless protagonist through their own ways.

This image displays the tree that Gene
knocked Finny out of because of his
jealously he had for him.

            The character, Gene, from “A Separate Peace” parallels with Iago in many ways. Like all protagonists, Gene drives the action of the story. However, one thing that sets Gene’s character apart from others and what makes him similar to Iago is his anti-heroic qualities. Gene finds himself in a jealous struggle that leads him to knock his best friend, whom he envies, out of a tree, thus breaking his leg (Knowles). Gene’s plot of jealousy eventually leads to the regrettable death of his best friend, Finny. Just like Shakespeare’s character Iago did in “Othello”, Gene carries out evil acts that go against the typical heroic qualities of a protagonist. However, as the protagonist, Gene is able to obtain sympathy from the reader over his own insecurities. Iago, though not a completely sympathetic character, did receive sympathy when Othello refused to promote him even after his long years of service (Othello, I.i.8-33). Because of this, the character Iago is able to convey the notion of Shakespeare’s timeless and reoccurring work “Othello” through his paralleling attributes with the modern character Gene.



Doug may be a bank robber, but as the
viewer gets to know him well, they will
inevitably root for his success.

             In addition to drawing parallels with “A Separate Peace”, “Othello” also connects to the recent motion picture “The Town.” “Othello” can be seen as timeless through Iago’s similarities to the character, Doug. In this film, he is a ruthless bank robber that comes from a neighborhood of crime (Affleck). Frequently threatening others, Doug lacks the noble and heroic qualities of the standard protagonist. However, he is able to gain the viewer’s sympathy and support much like Iago is able to
do in “Othello.” As Doug carries out his last robberies, he becomes a victim of his own crimes as he ends up harming those he loves the most (Affleck). Even though he is breaking the law and stealing from others, in this moment, the viewer takes the side of Doug and feels sympathy for him. This notion of a flawed, and even evil, yet likeable protagonist is something that Shakespeare conveyed 500 years ago, and it still applies to literature and popular media today. Whether it is in “A Separate Peace” or “The Town”, reoccurring themes and attributes from “Othello” can be seen today among many literary works. This is what makes “Othello” such a significant part of literary history: its timeless and universal nature.

Works Cited

Knowles, John, and Alan C. Coman. "Chapter 4." A Seperate Peace. Agincourt: Book Society of Canada, 1966. Print

Craig, Peter, Ben Affleck, and Aaron Stockard. The Town. Dir. Ben Affleck. 17 Sept.             2010. Television.

Perrine, Laurence. “Othello.” Perrine’s Literature:

            Structures, Sound, and Sense. Fort Worth. Harcourt College. 2002.

            1361-462. Print.

Othello Song Reflection

The song that I have chosen to represent the conflict between Othello and Desdemona is "Faithfully" by journey. Throughout the entire play, Desdemona remained loyal to Othello to the point of death. Even when he threatened her life and eventually took it, Desdemona remained obedient and faithful to her husband. Because of actions like this, I think this song describes the relationship Othello and Desdemona had. The song's chorus states "I'm forever yours, faithfully." This really conveys the gist of their relationship in the fact that Desdemona never cheated on Othello and had even stood by him as he wrongfully killed her. She behaved as though she was truly forever his wife in life and in death. Because of the parallels between the song and situation, I think that this song accurately portrays the complex and indirect relationship Desdemona and Othello had.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj__jhmPMgI  - video

http://www.metrolyrics.com/faithfully-lyrics-journey.html -lyrics

Othello: Overall Reflection

"Blow me about in winds! Roast me in sulphur! Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire! O Desdemona! Desdemona! Dead! Oh! Oh! Oh!" V.ii.278-281

I'm starting to think that Shakespeare simply hates happiness. Every play of his ends in everything that could have gone wrong going wrong. The quote above depicts the final parts of the play where everything, in the eyes of the audience, just goes wrong. Whether you were rooting for Othello or Iago, both parties end up losing. It really just no longer shocks me after all the Shakesperian plays I've read. Othello was yet another one of Shakespeare's tragedies that followed this course. However, despite the way things turned out, I actually enjoyed this play. It probably is my favorite play of Shakespeare that I have read and one of my favorite works we've studied this year. Now that it's over, I'm interested to see others thoughts on the story and whether they enjoyed it or not.

Othello: Question 5 Response

"O thou weed, Who art so lovely fair and smell'st sweet That the sense aches at thee, would thou hadst ne'er been born!" IV.ii. 67-69

Theme was a trouble for me to identify in this play. It seemed as though it was Iago planning to kill everyone, and then even more people were killed than he expected. Where's the theme in that? I'm hoping someone will be able to enlighten me on the theme of the play tomorrow. Really, I only have a slight guess as to what it may be. The play is obviously a tragedy, but I wonder if the theme could be tragic as well. It seems to be a reocurring "theme" in Shakespeare's plays and is especially shown in Othello. If the theme is simply the tragedy of human error, then the theme is the driving force behind the entire play. Each action Iago makes to advance the plot is based upon Othello's tragic flaw. The quote above shows Othello's tragic flaw in which he has been convinced unfoundedly by Iago that Desdemona has been cheating on him. Hopefully I'm not too far off on this one.

Othello: Question 2 Response

"I kissed thee ere I killed thee. No way but this, Killing myself, to die upon a kiss. (Falls on the bed and dies)" V.ii.357-358

Since it is a Shakesperian play, I think it would be a good guess to categorize Othello as a tragedy. Almost every character the audience knew ended up dying with the exception of Cassio, who barely managed to survive. As usual, there is always a central character with a tragic flaw which eventually results in his demise. Shakespere's play names tend to be the name of the main character, whom the audience knows best,. One thing I saw different about this tragedy is that it focused almost soley on Iago's actions rather than Othello. The audience only knew Iago's deepest thoughts. This poses the question of why not name the play Iago. My guess is that it is because Othello is the tragic character with his gullible and trusting nature leading to his demise. Because of this, Othello is the real reason for the play being a tragedy, thus having the play named after him like all the rest of Shakespeare's works.