"I am your own for ever."
III.iii.481
Short and sweet and to the point. I'd say that's what this quote represents. It is so simple and short yet describes the entire play all too well. Iago here, yet again, is lying and is using calculated speech to gain influence. It actually sounds extremely creepy in a way, but Iago says this as just another means to prove his trustworthiness to Othello. Just before he said this, Othello promoted him to lieutenant, so obviously his lies are paying off. It's a little ironic that the word LIE can be found in his new title. Anyway, Iago is just executing his plan step by step without ever failing. He just has been promoted, but it would shock me if that was his goal this whole time. It seems Iago has more tricks up his sleeve that he will soon reveal in his calculated fight for power. I've never been a fan of Shakespeare, but I'm genuinely interested to see how the rest of the play will unfold.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Othello: p.1119 Question 4 Response
"Tis evermore the prologue to his sleep. He'll watch the harolage a double set, if drink not his cradle."
II.iii.109-113
Okay so this quote doesn't exactly create suspense in the play, but I thought it embodied the character who does. Iago is the driving force behind the action of the play. He has revealed small parts of his plan to the audience but not its entirety. This is the suspense of the play. The audience is constantly trying to figure out what Iago will do next to set his plan in motion. In this excerpt, Iago is carrying out yet another calculated lie to progress this plan. This is where the suspense comes from. As a reader, I keep wondering what sick purpose or action these lies will set into motion. While the audience knows little of Iago's plan, the other characters have not the slightest clue. They even describe Iago as honest frequently! This contrast in the perceptions of Iago and his true character generate suspense for the audience who is constantly trying to figure out what Iago has in mind.
II.iii.109-113
Okay so this quote doesn't exactly create suspense in the play, but I thought it embodied the character who does. Iago is the driving force behind the action of the play. He has revealed small parts of his plan to the audience but not its entirety. This is the suspense of the play. The audience is constantly trying to figure out what Iago will do next to set his plan in motion. In this excerpt, Iago is carrying out yet another calculated lie to progress this plan. This is where the suspense comes from. As a reader, I keep wondering what sick purpose or action these lies will set into motion. While the audience knows little of Iago's plan, the other characters have not the slightest clue. They even describe Iago as honest frequently! This contrast in the perceptions of Iago and his true character generate suspense for the audience who is constantly trying to figure out what Iago has in mind.
Othello: p.1119 Question 3 Response
"I know not that, but such a handkerchief- I am sure it was your wife's- did I today see Cassio wipe his beard with." III.iii.437-439
This quote is from the antagonist of the story, Iago and is directed towards the protagonist, Othello. Othello seems to be the protagonist, however, the story focuses and is told from Iago's perspective and driving action. The audience is given more insight into Iago's character and motives through his soliloquies and aside comments. These differences among the protagonist and antagonist, though Othello knows nothing of, create foil characters in the story. Though Cassio is not as noble as Othello in his actions, his true character and idealogy are very similar to Othello. This serves to contrast Iago from Othello and demonize his actions. Cassio's role as a minor character is one of the centerpieces for Iago's not fully revealed plan and influences key action in the play. This minor role is essential in shedding light on the true intentions of Iago's plan.
This quote is from the antagonist of the story, Iago and is directed towards the protagonist, Othello. Othello seems to be the protagonist, however, the story focuses and is told from Iago's perspective and driving action. The audience is given more insight into Iago's character and motives through his soliloquies and aside comments. These differences among the protagonist and antagonist, though Othello knows nothing of, create foil characters in the story. Though Cassio is not as noble as Othello in his actions, his true character and idealogy are very similar to Othello. This serves to contrast Iago from Othello and demonize his actions. Cassio's role as a minor character is one of the centerpieces for Iago's not fully revealed plan and influences key action in the play. This minor role is essential in shedding light on the true intentions of Iago's plan.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
The Drunkard: Personal Reflection
"'My brave little man!' she said with her eyes shining. 'It was God did it you were there. You were his guardian angel."
p. 351
This along with "You're Ugly Too" have probably been my favorite stories we've read this year. I love the irony in this story. The Drunkard, as the title implies, makes the reader think that it will end up being the dad getting drunk like usual during funeral times. However, it ends up being the son. The actions of the 10 year old boy really were quite funny. I especially liked the irony at the end. As in the quote above, the boy's mother praises him calling him a "guardian angel." What kind of parent praises their child for such an action! I just thought it was hilarious how she was so happy her husband didn't get drunk that she thought it was okay for her son. Oh the Irony!
p. 351
This along with "You're Ugly Too" have probably been my favorite stories we've read this year. I love the irony in this story. The Drunkard, as the title implies, makes the reader think that it will end up being the dad getting drunk like usual during funeral times. However, it ends up being the son. The actions of the 10 year old boy really were quite funny. I especially liked the irony at the end. As in the quote above, the boy's mother praises him calling him a "guardian angel." What kind of parent praises their child for such an action! I just thought it was hilarious how she was so happy her husband didn't get drunk that she thought it was okay for her son. Oh the Irony!
You're Ugly Too: Personal Reflection
"Zoe came up, slow, from behind and gave him a shove. His arms slipped forward, off the railing, out over the street." p. 370
The title ties in with the central part of the story. Zoe always has a habit of taking jokes too far or using sarcasm that comes across as strange or rude. The joke about the doctor is Zoe's favorite and conveys her character. Just as she takes jokes too far, she also did her actions. In the quote, Zoe actually goes as far as shoving Earl, pretending to push him off the balcony. Instead of a playful shove, she pushes him firmly to the point where he even almost slipped over the railing. Was this just one of Zoe's sick jokes that she took too far, or was it something more? I am interested to see what other people's opinions of this event are in class tomorrow.
The title ties in with the central part of the story. Zoe always has a habit of taking jokes too far or using sarcasm that comes across as strange or rude. The joke about the doctor is Zoe's favorite and conveys her character. Just as she takes jokes too far, she also did her actions. In the quote, Zoe actually goes as far as shoving Earl, pretending to push him off the balcony. Instead of a playful shove, she pushes him firmly to the point where he even almost slipped over the railing. Was this just one of Zoe's sick jokes that she took too far, or was it something more? I am interested to see what other people's opinions of this event are in class tomorrow.
The Lottery: Foreshadowing
"They stood together, away from the pile of stones in the corner, and their jokes were quiet and they smiled rather than laughed."
p. 264
This is really messed up. Reading this my first time, I just glanced over the detail that there was a pile of stones there. O yeah, I guess it was for the human sacrifice later. Reading this a second time, I picked up on many details foreshadowing the cult-like event to come that I gazed over in my first innocent reading. I got the ominous feeling that the lottery wasn't good to win, but the story's foreshadowings really can't be fully interpereted until the story is over. It was very interesting to go back and read all the little details hinting towards the stoning. In the quote, it shows the subtle changes in the peoples' character that foreshadows the lottery's meaning. However, why were they even there? From what I understood, they believed it would bring crops. Is it really worth killing one of their friends or maybe themselves over a dumb superstition? I just thought this story was pretty creepy in the way the characters' reacted to and handled the events.
p. 264
This is really messed up. Reading this my first time, I just glanced over the detail that there was a pile of stones there. O yeah, I guess it was for the human sacrifice later. Reading this a second time, I picked up on many details foreshadowing the cult-like event to come that I gazed over in my first innocent reading. I got the ominous feeling that the lottery wasn't good to win, but the story's foreshadowings really can't be fully interpereted until the story is over. It was very interesting to go back and read all the little details hinting towards the stoning. In the quote, it shows the subtle changes in the peoples' character that foreshadows the lottery's meaning. However, why were they even there? From what I understood, they believed it would bring crops. Is it really worth killing one of their friends or maybe themselves over a dumb superstition? I just thought this story was pretty creepy in the way the characters' reacted to and handled the events.
Popular Mechanics: Metaphor
"He felt the baby slipping out of his hands and he pulled back very hard. In this manner, the issue was decided."
Please don't be literal. I think this story as a whole is a metaphor for divorce. This is revealed in the very last line where the author includes "the issue was decided." This hints at a bigger picture than parents actually fighting over a baby and pulling it apart. What sick people would actually do that? What this short story is about though is the manner in which couples fight over things in divorce. Whether it is their time in seeing their children or materal things, divorces typically result in both parties fighting for everything they can get. It's a sad part of modern society but is commonplace as is hinted in the titles "popular mechanics."
Please don't be literal. I think this story as a whole is a metaphor for divorce. This is revealed in the very last line where the author includes "the issue was decided." This hints at a bigger picture than parents actually fighting over a baby and pulling it apart. What sick people would actually do that? What this short story is about though is the manner in which couples fight over things in divorce. Whether it is their time in seeing their children or materal things, divorces typically result in both parties fighting for everything they can get. It's a sad part of modern society but is commonplace as is hinted in the titles "popular mechanics."
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