This play is upsetting because you just cannot help but feel sorry for Macbeth. He was a man that just wanted to achieve greatness and become an admired and respected figure, but with the presence of negativity and ill-intentions he was steered in a completely wrong direction to lead him to that path.
Macbeth crossed the Rubicon and was way passed the point of no return and it is just unfortunate that a man with so much promise had to succumb to such pressures and misleading. With the right people Macbeth could have attained so much and became the man he had always imagined himself being.
Macbeth just demonstrated that no one is immune to making mistakes, regardless of the status they may have. Temptation and greed are silent killers and do not care what social group a person may fall into, but will strike no matter the circumstances.
Macbeth had no idea that his future would be so dire, even with the warnings from the three witches, which parallels people that disregard signs that forewarn them of the people that they have the possibility of becoming. In life, "battles are lost and won" and "fair is foul" but if you are unwilling to recognize the bad and evil that exists you could fall victim to such disasters.
It is important to be aware of those around you and claim to have your best interests and mind. This just shows that everything has a price and challenges how far you are willing to go to achieve your goals. What is important is to keep your integrity and sanity and to not fall to the pressures of life. There is always a snake waiting in the grass ready to bite an unsuspecting victim, however, through experience and time hopefully that snake will never get that opportunity to take that advantage.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Macbeth-A Tragedy
This story epitomizes a tragedy because since the beginning of the play, Macbeth doubted killing Duncan and believed he was going against the natural order of nature. His wife instills within his mind that the only way he will be capable of reaching the thrown is if he kills the king, and by going along with his wife, he is going against his own nature.
Tragedies are so troubling because the main character is the type of person the audience grows to admire and like. Macbeth was a good man, that had good and noble intentions; but because of the influence of stronger and more evil powers, he succumbed to the pressure of it all. Ambition was Macbeth's downfall; he is a tragic character because he rose so high to drop so far down into the perils of success. Ambition tested how far Macbeth was willing to go to attain the power his wife was seeking for him.
Macbeth was brave, had an honorable name, was courageous in battle, and adored by his peers. He was on the rise to greatness, and due to the temptation of success and power, he lost sight of all that was important. Everything was instructing him that this plan created by Lady Macbeth was horrible and not worth going through with; he had been receiving good fortune without having to murder.
However, through the manipulation of Lady Macbeth, Macbeth fell victim to his own ambition was an ideal person to mold after for a tragic character.
Tragedies show that despite how high someone may rise, one fatal mistake can cause them to fall crashing down; and it does not always mean that this tragic character was always a bad and immoral person, but instead weak in regards to the power of suggestion and persuasion.
Tragedies are so troubling because the main character is the type of person the audience grows to admire and like. Macbeth was a good man, that had good and noble intentions; but because of the influence of stronger and more evil powers, he succumbed to the pressure of it all. Ambition was Macbeth's downfall; he is a tragic character because he rose so high to drop so far down into the perils of success. Ambition tested how far Macbeth was willing to go to attain the power his wife was seeking for him.
Macbeth was brave, had an honorable name, was courageous in battle, and adored by his peers. He was on the rise to greatness, and due to the temptation of success and power, he lost sight of all that was important. Everything was instructing him that this plan created by Lady Macbeth was horrible and not worth going through with; he had been receiving good fortune without having to murder.
However, through the manipulation of Lady Macbeth, Macbeth fell victim to his own ambition was an ideal person to mold after for a tragic character.
Tragedies show that despite how high someone may rise, one fatal mistake can cause them to fall crashing down; and it does not always mean that this tragic character was always a bad and immoral person, but instead weak in regards to the power of suggestion and persuasion.
Macbeth-Passage Analysis
In the first Act in scene five, there is an important passage that displayed the importance of gender roles and the reversal of them. Lady Macbeth initiates the switch and she sets the tone that will occur between the relationship with her and her husband.
Lady Macbeth is worried and aprehensive of whether or not Macbeth will be capable of killing Duncan to attain his ambition to the throne. She takes on the role of being the dominant and authoritative figure while her husband possesses the traits of the woman, feeling fear, guilt and second thoughts on carrying out the plan. Macbeth withholds the actual compassion out of the two, a quality associated with women. Lady Macbeth has no remorse for her plans or actions, she believes that the means justify the ends; whereas Macbeth cannot hide his emotions and empathy for others.
In the line "unsex me here" it blatently states that Lady Macbeth wants the brutal instincts and capabilities of a man so she can execute the "direst cruelty." She wants her husband to "look like the innocent flower" to deceit Duncan and wants Macbeth to "leave all rest to me." Lady Macbeth is taking ultimate control of the situation, showing her inner dominance and ridding herself of feminine weakness.
Comparing her husband to an "innocent flower" shows how much she disregards his presence and significance in the relationship. She whole heartedly believes that she is the prominant person in the marriage and that without her, nothing would get accomplished because Macbeth does not possess the qualities of a true leader.
Lady Macbeth wants the responsiblity of managing everything; she thrives on having power over others and determing the fate of those around her. She believes in herself and is does not possess insecurity despite the fact that she is a woman, when woman held little power. Macbeth is overpowered by Lady Macbeth's qualities and because of that he begins to fade and all that he once stood for is cast aside for fear of his wife's wrath and not living up to the standard of society as being the head of the household.
Lady Macbeth is worried and aprehensive of whether or not Macbeth will be capable of killing Duncan to attain his ambition to the throne. She takes on the role of being the dominant and authoritative figure while her husband possesses the traits of the woman, feeling fear, guilt and second thoughts on carrying out the plan. Macbeth withholds the actual compassion out of the two, a quality associated with women. Lady Macbeth has no remorse for her plans or actions, she believes that the means justify the ends; whereas Macbeth cannot hide his emotions and empathy for others.
In the line "unsex me here" it blatently states that Lady Macbeth wants the brutal instincts and capabilities of a man so she can execute the "direst cruelty." She wants her husband to "look like the innocent flower" to deceit Duncan and wants Macbeth to "leave all rest to me." Lady Macbeth is taking ultimate control of the situation, showing her inner dominance and ridding herself of feminine weakness.
Comparing her husband to an "innocent flower" shows how much she disregards his presence and significance in the relationship. She whole heartedly believes that she is the prominant person in the marriage and that without her, nothing would get accomplished because Macbeth does not possess the qualities of a true leader.
Lady Macbeth wants the responsiblity of managing everything; she thrives on having power over others and determing the fate of those around her. She believes in herself and is does not possess insecurity despite the fact that she is a woman, when woman held little power. Macbeth is overpowered by Lady Macbeth's qualities and because of that he begins to fade and all that he once stood for is cast aside for fear of his wife's wrath and not living up to the standard of society as being the head of the household.
Taming of the Shrew-Reflection
I think it is pretty amazing that Shakespeare's plays are still being used in today's society. It is refreshing to know that brilliant writing will not go unnoticed or under appreciated by any generation; his works are being adapted to fit with the times (10 Things I Hate About You one of the funniest movies).
Even though the play's themes were disturbing because of its degrading reference to women, it can also be viewed as a good thing, because it finally shed light on the troubling matter.
However, sometimes the writing was downright confusing because there were so many characters involved and they were disguised and lying about their backgrounds that it forced its readers to pay close attention to the details. This was the type of play that definitely needed to be seen and not read because there were so many characters and stories occurring that you could get lost in the mix of it all, but if it were laid out in front of you, clearly outlining which character was which, it would be easier to comprehend.
Personally, I like the revamped version of 10 Things I Hate About You because although Heath Ledger's character, Patrick, wanted to tame Kat, he did not deliberately try and force her to become someone different. He wanted her to become just a better person overall. He wanted her to see the good in others and the good in life instead of always looking for the negative. However, in The Taming of the Shrew Petruchio wanted to change her because she was not the ideal woman; whereas in the movie, Patrick did not want her to change to be a better woman, but a better person. Once he saw the beauty in her, he did not want to change those imperfections because that made her, her.
It is pretty amazing how Shakespeare's writing can transcend into modern times and mold into what is now deemed as acceptable or inappropriate.
Even though the play's themes were disturbing because of its degrading reference to women, it can also be viewed as a good thing, because it finally shed light on the troubling matter.
However, sometimes the writing was downright confusing because there were so many characters involved and they were disguised and lying about their backgrounds that it forced its readers to pay close attention to the details. This was the type of play that definitely needed to be seen and not read because there were so many characters and stories occurring that you could get lost in the mix of it all, but if it were laid out in front of you, clearly outlining which character was which, it would be easier to comprehend.
Personally, I like the revamped version of 10 Things I Hate About You because although Heath Ledger's character, Patrick, wanted to tame Kat, he did not deliberately try and force her to become someone different. He wanted her to become just a better person overall. He wanted her to see the good in others and the good in life instead of always looking for the negative. However, in The Taming of the Shrew Petruchio wanted to change her because she was not the ideal woman; whereas in the movie, Patrick did not want her to change to be a better woman, but a better person. Once he saw the beauty in her, he did not want to change those imperfections because that made her, her.
It is pretty amazing how Shakespeare's writing can transcend into modern times and mold into what is now deemed as acceptable or inappropriate.
Taming of the Shrew- a Comedy
Comedies, on the surface, seem as though they are only about making the audience laugh and enjoy themselves for that brief time of entertainment; however, they are also about bringing to light some of society's issues or tendencies. However, comedies are capable of focusing on a message in a roundabout way so that the audience is still laughing and pleased, yet they are questioning their own lifestyles and motives once the play is finished.
Shakespeare's comedies like The Taming of the Shrew and A Midsummer Night's Dream revolve around confusion and misunderstanding, resulting in countless laughs because the only people that are aware of all the mishaps and misfortunes is the audience. The characters in the play are oblivious to everything that is going awry; however, the audience members see the train wreck unfold scene by scene. Shakespeare's comedies have premises that could be tragedies, but the way in which he tells the story it is hilarious and in good fun. He focuses on dreamlike states of the mind, finding comedy in any situation, and the beauty in resolving problems in the simplest ways.
These plays are meant to be seen, not only read, because Shakespeare's plays are about subtlety. His humor focuses on facial expressions, delivery and physical comedy. His brilliance is in not only being capable of making his audience laugh, but forcing his audience to think, reflect and question their own patterns of living and viewing the world and others surrounding them.
The Taming of the Shrew concentrated on societal norms, as well as, gender roles. Shakespeare was able to take two very serious topics and create a story that was not too overbearing or abrasive, but instead, light, witty and charming. Even though his topic may be questionable, it was brilliantly written and was wonderfully executed to meet its criteria for its genre. Comedies are difficult because everyone has a different style of humor, but Shakespeare did not let boundaries of any kind obstruct his path and his stories and messages were able to reach a broader audience because of it.
Shakespeare's comedies like The Taming of the Shrew and A Midsummer Night's Dream revolve around confusion and misunderstanding, resulting in countless laughs because the only people that are aware of all the mishaps and misfortunes is the audience. The characters in the play are oblivious to everything that is going awry; however, the audience members see the train wreck unfold scene by scene. Shakespeare's comedies have premises that could be tragedies, but the way in which he tells the story it is hilarious and in good fun. He focuses on dreamlike states of the mind, finding comedy in any situation, and the beauty in resolving problems in the simplest ways.
These plays are meant to be seen, not only read, because Shakespeare's plays are about subtlety. His humor focuses on facial expressions, delivery and physical comedy. His brilliance is in not only being capable of making his audience laugh, but forcing his audience to think, reflect and question their own patterns of living and viewing the world and others surrounding them.
The Taming of the Shrew concentrated on societal norms, as well as, gender roles. Shakespeare was able to take two very serious topics and create a story that was not too overbearing or abrasive, but instead, light, witty and charming. Even though his topic may be questionable, it was brilliantly written and was wonderfully executed to meet its criteria for its genre. Comedies are difficult because everyone has a different style of humor, but Shakespeare did not let boundaries of any kind obstruct his path and his stories and messages were able to reach a broader audience because of it.
Taming of the Shrew-Passage Analysis
Petruchio is desperately trying to break Kate and have her conform to society's standards of what a woman and wife should be; and, the scene where Katherine and Petruchio are riding into town and he is trying to convince her the bright sun they see is actually the moon is humorous but also alarming.
At first, Katherine argues with Petruchio; making her claim that the reason it is difficult to see into the horizon is because of the brilliant sun, but then Petruchio counters with the moon being the cause for their blindness. Petruchio is unrelenting with his claim, and does not withdraw his statements even when she attempts at making an argument. He belittles her, is condescending, and does not allow her to finish her thoughts because of his reiteration of the moon being present.
Petruchio's stubbornness is comical because he is mirroring the way in which Kate would act; she had the tendency to take the opposite stance regarding issues just to be difficult with her peers, especially men. Petruchio follows Kate's lead and eventually Kate surrenders and calls the sun the moon, which causes Petruchio to recant his original statement and he decides that the moon is actually the sun and Katherine is a liar.
Katherine is being broken by Petruchio and although the scene is quite funny with the way in which Shakespeare writes it-it's witty and quick-its message is anything but endearing. This man's only goal is to suppress this woman's wild and free spirit so she becomes an obeying and obedient housewife. He is not interested in the well-being of her, he is motivated by the idea of conquering her and being the one man that was capable of changing her.
Petruchio never physically abuses Katherine, but mentally she is affected by his methods. During Shakespeare's era it was acceptable for men to abuse their wives, it was the man's responsibility to keep his woman in line, so Petruchio's actions are not deemed inappropriate because he is fulfilling his role in society.
A person trying to change someone to make them better in the long run is respectable, but trying to change someone so they can meet the criteria for conforming within society is discouraging. I'm not saying all of Kate's traits were of the highest standards, or that Petruchio was the root of all evil, but the idea that a woman has to change because she does not fit the mold of what is acceptable is ridiculous.
At first, Katherine argues with Petruchio; making her claim that the reason it is difficult to see into the horizon is because of the brilliant sun, but then Petruchio counters with the moon being the cause for their blindness. Petruchio is unrelenting with his claim, and does not withdraw his statements even when she attempts at making an argument. He belittles her, is condescending, and does not allow her to finish her thoughts because of his reiteration of the moon being present.
Petruchio's stubbornness is comical because he is mirroring the way in which Kate would act; she had the tendency to take the opposite stance regarding issues just to be difficult with her peers, especially men. Petruchio follows Kate's lead and eventually Kate surrenders and calls the sun the moon, which causes Petruchio to recant his original statement and he decides that the moon is actually the sun and Katherine is a liar.
Katherine is being broken by Petruchio and although the scene is quite funny with the way in which Shakespeare writes it-it's witty and quick-its message is anything but endearing. This man's only goal is to suppress this woman's wild and free spirit so she becomes an obeying and obedient housewife. He is not interested in the well-being of her, he is motivated by the idea of conquering her and being the one man that was capable of changing her.
Petruchio never physically abuses Katherine, but mentally she is affected by his methods. During Shakespeare's era it was acceptable for men to abuse their wives, it was the man's responsibility to keep his woman in line, so Petruchio's actions are not deemed inappropriate because he is fulfilling his role in society.
A person trying to change someone to make them better in the long run is respectable, but trying to change someone so they can meet the criteria for conforming within society is discouraging. I'm not saying all of Kate's traits were of the highest standards, or that Petruchio was the root of all evil, but the idea that a woman has to change because she does not fit the mold of what is acceptable is ridiculous.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Richard the III - a history
Shakespeare was capable of writing for the masses, and he was able to take history and create a play for average and elite people alike to relate to and understand. I personally, love learning about history and the story behind great and powerful figures. Richard the III focused on Richard the man, as well as, Richard the ruler.
This play could not just be a fabrication to appeal to the audience because Shakespeare had to be conscious of his genre, and he did not want to mislead his viewers regarding historical content. Although Shakespeare did have literary license to adjust his story to make it as entertaining as possible, he was well aware that he was not just creating a dramatic play of his own, but instead, retelling the tale of the horrible reign of King Richard III.
The writing reflected Shakespeare's attempts to keep the play as accurate as possible; giving speeches to the public, and having conversations and writing from the common people portrayed the relationship between the ruler and state. It was important to represent the feelings and emotions of the regular citizens that Richard was affecting because his role as leader was detrimental to their well-being. There had to be a direct link from Richard's actions to his governed people.
Shakespeare was also making the statement, although, these civilians may be uneducated and under-valued, they are absorbent and aware of ill-behavior. The common townspeople were able to identify Richard's ill-intentions before the revered noblemen were capable of recognizing his evil agenda. Shakespeare was demonstrating that the elite can be easily fooled and although they look down on these meager people, they are not as easily persuaded by powerful names and enticizing status.
This genre of writing is interesting because it must pay attention to the overall affect a ruler has to its people, and as entertaining as the play may be, it is an important story that needs to be told so such actions can be recognized in the future and dramatic events do not have to be suffered. Shakespeare was capable of reaching countless lives, and through his ingenious work, he was able to educate those while entertaining them in the process.
This play could not just be a fabrication to appeal to the audience because Shakespeare had to be conscious of his genre, and he did not want to mislead his viewers regarding historical content. Although Shakespeare did have literary license to adjust his story to make it as entertaining as possible, he was well aware that he was not just creating a dramatic play of his own, but instead, retelling the tale of the horrible reign of King Richard III.
The writing reflected Shakespeare's attempts to keep the play as accurate as possible; giving speeches to the public, and having conversations and writing from the common people portrayed the relationship between the ruler and state. It was important to represent the feelings and emotions of the regular citizens that Richard was affecting because his role as leader was detrimental to their well-being. There had to be a direct link from Richard's actions to his governed people.
Shakespeare was also making the statement, although, these civilians may be uneducated and under-valued, they are absorbent and aware of ill-behavior. The common townspeople were able to identify Richard's ill-intentions before the revered noblemen were capable of recognizing his evil agenda. Shakespeare was demonstrating that the elite can be easily fooled and although they look down on these meager people, they are not as easily persuaded by powerful names and enticizing status.
This genre of writing is interesting because it must pay attention to the overall affect a ruler has to its people, and as entertaining as the play may be, it is an important story that needs to be told so such actions can be recognized in the future and dramatic events do not have to be suffered. Shakespeare was capable of reaching countless lives, and through his ingenious work, he was able to educate those while entertaining them in the process.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Richard the III - Personal Reflection
Richard is the type of character that makes his audience uncomfortable. He epitomizes all that is horrible and is personified in human form. He kills his brother, murders his wife, manipulates his niece into marriage, and the most vile and disturbing act of all, he was the soul that organized the slaughtering of two innocent children. The scariest aspect of all these atrocious events is that Richard is never the one doing the actual killing; he is the mastermind behind every evil and disgusting plan.
Richard's hands are soaked in sin from his dirty deeds, but he is not guilty of carrying out of the murders; he was not even around when the actual murders were transpiring. The fact that he was capable of persuading enough people to go along with his maniacal plans is incredibly unsettling. The people Richard would hire to carry out his wishes were well aware of his evil interior and his motives; however, due to their own selfish greed or self preservation, they would cooperate with Richard for fear of what he do to them and their family if he found out that they held a guilty conscious and were unable to fulfill their duty.
When people would turn against Richard and object to his requests, he would have them terminated; regardless of their status and role in society. Buckingham was with him almost the entire way to his quest to kingship, but once he rejected Richard's plans, Richard had him eradicated, along with the rest. He was not going to allow any single person to interfere with his aspirations, and murder and death were not matters of concern to him, as long as he was the one determining who would be decimated; his life and his ambitions were the top priority.
Even civilians were capable of recognizing that Richard was up to no good and was starting to make trouble in the neighborhood and it was not just one little fight where his mom got scared and sent him to live with his auntie and uncle in bel-air; but instead his desire to destruct London to become king was overwhelming and extremely evident to the most simple minded townsfolk. Evil triumphs when good people do nothing, and that is what occurred during Richard the III. They were warned by Lady Margaret that he was nothing but pure evil, but they decided to cast her off as a bewildered mad woman. Then when they would finally realize that Margaret's words were true, it was always too late and Richard would win yet another battle.
Ambition and power are tempting aspects; however, how far is one man willing to go to attain them; and how come it took such a long time for people to stand together and make a change when they knew what was happening was wrong?
Richard's hands are soaked in sin from his dirty deeds, but he is not guilty of carrying out of the murders; he was not even around when the actual murders were transpiring. The fact that he was capable of persuading enough people to go along with his maniacal plans is incredibly unsettling. The people Richard would hire to carry out his wishes were well aware of his evil interior and his motives; however, due to their own selfish greed or self preservation, they would cooperate with Richard for fear of what he do to them and their family if he found out that they held a guilty conscious and were unable to fulfill their duty.
When people would turn against Richard and object to his requests, he would have them terminated; regardless of their status and role in society. Buckingham was with him almost the entire way to his quest to kingship, but once he rejected Richard's plans, Richard had him eradicated, along with the rest. He was not going to allow any single person to interfere with his aspirations, and murder and death were not matters of concern to him, as long as he was the one determining who would be decimated; his life and his ambitions were the top priority.
Even civilians were capable of recognizing that Richard was up to no good and was starting to make trouble in the neighborhood and it was not just one little fight where his mom got scared and sent him to live with his auntie and uncle in bel-air; but instead his desire to destruct London to become king was overwhelming and extremely evident to the most simple minded townsfolk. Evil triumphs when good people do nothing, and that is what occurred during Richard the III. They were warned by Lady Margaret that he was nothing but pure evil, but they decided to cast her off as a bewildered mad woman. Then when they would finally realize that Margaret's words were true, it was always too late and Richard would win yet another battle.
Ambition and power are tempting aspects; however, how far is one man willing to go to attain them; and how come it took such a long time for people to stand together and make a change when they knew what was happening was wrong?
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Richard III -Analysis
Richard the III immediately takes on the role of the ultimate villain. In the opening scene in Act 1, he expresses his desire to be enveloped by this evil-to have his entire soul and body overwhelmed with the ugliness of it, and he is able to personify evil by his devious traits and manipulative manner.
Richard is cunning and is aware that in order to achieve his aspirations of becoming king, his most vile side of his personality must be hidden from upper society. He wants to appear as though his inner goals are not to be named king; he tangles them in his lies and uses his deformities to evoke pity and compassion. He places guilt upon those that accuse him of evil intentions-using his physical deformities to his benefit and that accusing a man with so little to live for in life is degrading.
There are two tones prevalent in his speech. Richard is reflecting on society as a whole, as well as, himself. War has ended and he wants the battles to rage on. While the countryside is rejoicing due to the peace they are experiencing, Richard is furious with this new found prosperity. The happiness and joy of others only highlights his own self-loathing. He is incapable of focusing on the positive in his life, and he is the cause of his own misery. Richard's mentality and actions are the reasons as to why he is unable to find a woman that is capable of fully loving him without having to be manipulated into it. He allows his physical deformities to plague him internally.
The repetition of the word "I" concentrates on his bitterness and building anger. He is unable to sympathize with anyone; countless people were killed and lives were ruined during the brutal wartime, and he is brewing new and horrible ways in which he can create his own havoc to generate the destruction that occurred during war.
Richard is fully aware of his desire to be evil. He is not manipulated by higher sources or greater powers; he is acting upon free will. He longs for these menacing feelings and thoughts to "dive" deeper into his soul so he is truly capable of embracing these villian-like qualities and become overtaken by the root of all evil. Richard is conscious of the fact that in order to attain such desires, he must be coy and not allow his superiors to see his true face.
Richard is cunning and is aware that in order to achieve his aspirations of becoming king, his most vile side of his personality must be hidden from upper society. He wants to appear as though his inner goals are not to be named king; he tangles them in his lies and uses his deformities to evoke pity and compassion. He places guilt upon those that accuse him of evil intentions-using his physical deformities to his benefit and that accusing a man with so little to live for in life is degrading.
There are two tones prevalent in his speech. Richard is reflecting on society as a whole, as well as, himself. War has ended and he wants the battles to rage on. While the countryside is rejoicing due to the peace they are experiencing, Richard is furious with this new found prosperity. The happiness and joy of others only highlights his own self-loathing. He is incapable of focusing on the positive in his life, and he is the cause of his own misery. Richard's mentality and actions are the reasons as to why he is unable to find a woman that is capable of fully loving him without having to be manipulated into it. He allows his physical deformities to plague him internally.
The repetition of the word "I" concentrates on his bitterness and building anger. He is unable to sympathize with anyone; countless people were killed and lives were ruined during the brutal wartime, and he is brewing new and horrible ways in which he can create his own havoc to generate the destruction that occurred during war.
Richard is fully aware of his desire to be evil. He is not manipulated by higher sources or greater powers; he is acting upon free will. He longs for these menacing feelings and thoughts to "dive" deeper into his soul so he is truly capable of embracing these villian-like qualities and become overtaken by the root of all evil. Richard is conscious of the fact that in order to attain such desires, he must be coy and not allow his superiors to see his true face.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Nikki-Rosa (293) Analysis
Nikki-Rosa is a matured black woman who is reminiscing on her childhood. She identifies that not many people are going to understand that the poverty did not worry her or "no inside toilet" (4) but the fact that "white biographers" are not going to capture the essence of her childhood and the happiness that she felt while "living in Woodlawn" (3).
There is no prevalent rhyme in this poem; it is more of an ongoing thought, something that has been building up inside of her for years and she is suddenly able to exhale and get every last word out before she loses it.
"Nikki-Rosa" has a soulful style to it, breaking into shorter and longer sentences that make it have smooth manner and almost give it a beat in the reader's head.
Nikki Giovanni did an amazing job letting readers see another side of being poor and a minority, that it is not this insurmountable hardship, but it is full of plenty of happiness. And if you look anywhere long enough, you will be capable of seeing that beauty.
There is no prevalent rhyme in this poem; it is more of an ongoing thought, something that has been building up inside of her for years and she is suddenly able to exhale and get every last word out before she loses it.
"Nikki-Rosa" has a soulful style to it, breaking into shorter and longer sentences that make it have smooth manner and almost give it a beat in the reader's head.
Nikki Giovanni did an amazing job letting readers see another side of being poor and a minority, that it is not this insurmountable hardship, but it is full of plenty of happiness. And if you look anywhere long enough, you will be capable of seeing that beauty.
Nikki-Rosa (293) Devices
The only word that is capitalized throughout the entire poem is the word Black. This shows the pride she possesses regarding her heritage. She is not going to let anything bring her down, and she will not be embarrassed for the color of her skin or feel inferior because of the way God created her and her family. She is proud of the way she looks and the life she led, and if anyone has a problem with her being Black she will bravely defy them.
Also, the only punctuation found in the poem is the period found at the very end. It seems like this was just run-on thought, a continuation of pent-up frustration and annoyance at the common arrogance of society. "childhood remembrances are always a drag...all the while I was quite happy" (1 & 27) the first and last lines of the poem connect flawlessly together; I think this was done intentionally to show that everything is connected and comes full circle. That maybe at one point in Nikki-Rosa's life she was upset with being handed the short end of the stick, but through time she realized how lucky she was to have the life and love she experienced. No one will understand her and her family, but that does not matter because they do; all the difficulties she faced-the poverty, the alcoholism-none of it mattered because it molded her into the person she is, and through it all, " everybody is together and you and your sister have happy birthdays and very good christmasses" (22-23).
Also, the only punctuation found in the poem is the period found at the very end. It seems like this was just run-on thought, a continuation of pent-up frustration and annoyance at the common arrogance of society. "childhood remembrances are always a drag...all the while I was quite happy" (1 & 27) the first and last lines of the poem connect flawlessly together; I think this was done intentionally to show that everything is connected and comes full circle. That maybe at one point in Nikki-Rosa's life she was upset with being handed the short end of the stick, but through time she realized how lucky she was to have the life and love she experienced. No one will understand her and her family, but that does not matter because they do; all the difficulties she faced-the poverty, the alcoholism-none of it mattered because it molded her into the person she is, and through it all, " everybody is together and you and your sister have happy birthdays and very good christmasses" (22-23).
Niki-Rosa (p. 293) Reflection
This deals with the life of a black girl growing up and how she can never be understood by those that have had a privileged life because, in their view of her, no one with so little could possess so much.
She gives the impression that she has some hostility toward white people, in general, which is understandable because in the time period in which she grew up there was much more racism and prejudice. Seeing the hardships her own family, herself and her parents had to endure, made her more cynical of the world, and rightfully so.
She is not afraid to tell the audience of everything she did not have, but she is just as proud to share all that her family was blessed enough to be given "Black love is Black wealth" (24).
Nikki-Rosa feels that if she had become a person that was famous and well-known they would be too preoccupied with describing her hardships, instead of revealing all the happiness she had in her life. This was the way that she grew up, that was the lifestyle that she was familar with, so to her and her family it was not bad, it was just another day in the Nikki-Rosa household.
Even though this focuses on a young black girl, I think it is easy to relate to because it emphasizes the strong ties of family and that unbreakable bond that is shared. It crosses color barriers because any family that does not come from much is able to identify with the concept that life is what you make of it.
Nikki-Rosa does not want to waste her time concentrating on all that could have been and all that she could have had had she been a different color or if her family had been different. Instead, she is happy to have had the family and life she was born into, and all she wants is for outsiders to recognize this fortune of hers as well.
She gives the impression that she has some hostility toward white people, in general, which is understandable because in the time period in which she grew up there was much more racism and prejudice. Seeing the hardships her own family, herself and her parents had to endure, made her more cynical of the world, and rightfully so.
She is not afraid to tell the audience of everything she did not have, but she is just as proud to share all that her family was blessed enough to be given "Black love is Black wealth" (24).
Nikki-Rosa feels that if she had become a person that was famous and well-known they would be too preoccupied with describing her hardships, instead of revealing all the happiness she had in her life. This was the way that she grew up, that was the lifestyle that she was familar with, so to her and her family it was not bad, it was just another day in the Nikki-Rosa household.
Even though this focuses on a young black girl, I think it is easy to relate to because it emphasizes the strong ties of family and that unbreakable bond that is shared. It crosses color barriers because any family that does not come from much is able to identify with the concept that life is what you make of it.
Nikki-Rosa does not want to waste her time concentrating on all that could have been and all that she could have had had she been a different color or if her family had been different. Instead, she is happy to have had the family and life she was born into, and all she wants is for outsiders to recognize this fortune of hers as well.
Money (279) Analysis
The speaker appears to be a man that has seen or has experienced for himself the negative power of money. He wants the readers to realize that in the end the money will win "There will be no pain/ but in thirty seconds/ the poison will reach your heart" (27-29).
He keeps his sentences and stanzas short, direct and straight to the point. There are periods at the end of each stanza, finishing a thought, but within that stanza it is a gentle flow describing each stage that the money encounters. Originating from a tamed beast, to a nesting creature, to a friendly play boy, a regenerating organism, an attention seeking plant, then finally showing its true venomous teeth.
I like how it is not drawn out, but Contoski uses images and language that any reader can connect with. He uses the title to show his main focus, but he never has to reuse that word, yet the reader is still capable of fully understanding his ultimate message and idea of the poem. To be able to write an entire poem on a single matter and not even have to use that word to explain it, takes an immense amount of talent and just an universal understanding on the subject he is referring to.
He keeps his sentences and stanzas short, direct and straight to the point. There are periods at the end of each stanza, finishing a thought, but within that stanza it is a gentle flow describing each stage that the money encounters. Originating from a tamed beast, to a nesting creature, to a friendly play boy, a regenerating organism, an attention seeking plant, then finally showing its true venomous teeth.
I like how it is not drawn out, but Contoski uses images and language that any reader can connect with. He uses the title to show his main focus, but he never has to reuse that word, yet the reader is still capable of fully understanding his ultimate message and idea of the poem. To be able to write an entire poem on a single matter and not even have to use that word to explain it, takes an immense amount of talent and just an universal understanding on the subject he is referring to.
Money (279) Devices
Contoski uses personification to show the power and influence of money. The only time the word money is mentioned is in the title. Since the first stanza, Contoski references money as "it." The money takes on the role of a wild animal, that an owner believes can be controlled, but with time, its real and dangerous nature will shine through, "At first it will seem tame/ willing to be domesticated" (1-2) that it is willing to change for a short period of time but it will resort to its instinctive ways.
In addition to the personification, the diction is provoking because these are not words normally associated with money; "nest in your pocket" opposed to folded in your wallet, nested is similar to having a home, having deeper connection with the owner of the money. "Like a dog and lick/ the legs of women" (10-11) shows the idea of seduction, how sex and money tend to go hand in hand. It is not written in a vulgar manner, but it seems as though that is the hidden meaning behind the line; that different kinds of women become attracted to the presence of money and certain men become more attractive to those types of women. "Water it every three days" (18) taking on the role of being attended and cared for, that without nurturing it will not grow and prosper. Watering it will make it multiply and bring more happiness to the proprietor of the money. "Bite" (25) displays the negative and ill-temperateness of money, that no matter how tried they try, it will always have the upper hand.
In addition to the personification, the diction is provoking because these are not words normally associated with money; "nest in your pocket" opposed to folded in your wallet, nested is similar to having a home, having deeper connection with the owner of the money. "Like a dog and lick/ the legs of women" (10-11) shows the idea of seduction, how sex and money tend to go hand in hand. It is not written in a vulgar manner, but it seems as though that is the hidden meaning behind the line; that different kinds of women become attracted to the presence of money and certain men become more attractive to those types of women. "Water it every three days" (18) taking on the role of being attended and cared for, that without nurturing it will not grow and prosper. Watering it will make it multiply and bring more happiness to the proprietor of the money. "Bite" (25) displays the negative and ill-temperateness of money, that no matter how tried they try, it will always have the upper hand.
Money (p. 279) Reflection
"Money" begins innocently, that having a little bit of it will bring no harm to the holder and those surrounding him. Each stanza explaining a new property and trait that money will possess the longer it is kept, and the longer the money is kept, the more importance it has the holder because no longer is money just currency to pay for the necessities of life, but instead it becomes the reason to live.
The idea of having money and maintaining it becomes increasingly important and each line takes on a new persona of importance, and that money is steadily taking over the existence of the owner. However, the entire time the possessor of the money believes that they are in control, when in reality, the money has had the power, "Then one day when you think/ you are its master/ it will turn its head/ as if for a kiss/ and bite you gently/ on the hand" (21-26).
People become obsessed with material things that they forget how to appreciate the small things in life. Every person has selfish tendencies, it is human nature to think about yourself, there is nothing wrong with putting yourself first at times; however, when you become so wrapped up in yourself and what you can get out of people that is when it becomes a problem. Money appears to be a wonderful thing because you think it will solve all your problems, when money just enhances the all ready existing dilemmas.
It is not that money is always bad. Money can bring about goodness, however, goodness is capable of coming about through money when the intentions are noble. Victor Contoski is just stating that this "disease" and addiction does not care what race, gender or religion the beholder may be, greed can rot any person to the core. Greed is a silent killer that is capable of tearing friends and families apart and changing the owner for the worse without having them ever realize their drastic transformation.
Wealth can be found in so many other things opposed to the object of money; wealth is found in good health, happy families and just being lucky to be breathing.
The idea of having money and maintaining it becomes increasingly important and each line takes on a new persona of importance, and that money is steadily taking over the existence of the owner. However, the entire time the possessor of the money believes that they are in control, when in reality, the money has had the power, "Then one day when you think/ you are its master/ it will turn its head/ as if for a kiss/ and bite you gently/ on the hand" (21-26).
People become obsessed with material things that they forget how to appreciate the small things in life. Every person has selfish tendencies, it is human nature to think about yourself, there is nothing wrong with putting yourself first at times; however, when you become so wrapped up in yourself and what you can get out of people that is when it becomes a problem. Money appears to be a wonderful thing because you think it will solve all your problems, when money just enhances the all ready existing dilemmas.
It is not that money is always bad. Money can bring about goodness, however, goodness is capable of coming about through money when the intentions are noble. Victor Contoski is just stating that this "disease" and addiction does not care what race, gender or religion the beholder may be, greed can rot any person to the core. Greed is a silent killer that is capable of tearing friends and families apart and changing the owner for the worse without having them ever realize their drastic transformation.
Wealth can be found in so many other things opposed to the object of money; wealth is found in good health, happy families and just being lucky to be breathing.
If thou must love me (276) Analysis
The speaker seems to be an older woman who has experienced life. A young girl does not know the depth of love and would be overjoyed with a man she is interested in being attracted to her smile and overall grace; however, a woman that has more experience under her belt, dealing with life, peers, society and men, knows what she wants a guy to be interested in, and knows that all those little things that they may find appealing are not going to make love real. She recognizes these qualities may be endearing, however, love is more powerful than that.
Browning's poem does rhyme throughout with an ab pattern "Except for love's sake only. Do not say/ "I love her for her smile - her look - her way"" (2-3). The manner in which it is written, reminds the reader of love because it is lyrical and flows from line to line. When someone thinks of love, they normally think of beauty and a steady course to follow and Browning does that with her writing. The language is older and makes the reader think of classic love, when it was more sacred and special to share.
Love should be shared between people that genuinely care for one another, and for no other reason. The time period in which it was written shows her desire to partake in this untainted love.
Browning's poem does rhyme throughout with an ab pattern "Except for love's sake only. Do not say/ "I love her for her smile - her look - her way"" (2-3). The manner in which it is written, reminds the reader of love because it is lyrical and flows from line to line. When someone thinks of love, they normally think of beauty and a steady course to follow and Browning does that with her writing. The language is older and makes the reader think of classic love, when it was more sacred and special to share.
Love should be shared between people that genuinely care for one another, and for no other reason. The time period in which it was written shows her desire to partake in this untainted love.
If thou must love me (276) Devices
Browning uses repetition with the words "to love me." She really wants the reader to recognize her aspiration is to truly be loved, not infatuated with, or lusted after, but to experience the purity of love. Love is a special and rare thing to come by, and she does not want her message to be mistaken for being wanted or admired, but instead to be held preciously in the heart of her significant other.
The author also uses a dash ( - ) throughout the poem. I think this portrays her sudden bursts of inspiration, like as she is writing another idea pops into her head and she has to capture that moment and thought. She feels so strongly on the subject of love, that she has an abundance of examples of what she desperately wants out of a relationship and what she could not bear to endure.
Browning is aware of how much she has to offer and she does not want that to go unnoticed, however, she does not want to be loved for the wrong reasons, or be under the impression that what they feel is love, when they are really mistaken. These devices just add to the poem because it emphasizes her message of love and her desire to experience true love, but her strong will not to sacrifice and settle for what society believes is the right thing to do.
The author also uses a dash ( - ) throughout the poem. I think this portrays her sudden bursts of inspiration, like as she is writing another idea pops into her head and she has to capture that moment and thought. She feels so strongly on the subject of love, that she has an abundance of examples of what she desperately wants out of a relationship and what she could not bear to endure.
Browning is aware of how much she has to offer and she does not want that to go unnoticed, however, she does not want to be loved for the wrong reasons, or be under the impression that what they feel is love, when they are really mistaken. These devices just add to the poem because it emphasizes her message of love and her desire to experience true love, but her strong will not to sacrifice and settle for what society believes is the right thing to do.
If thou must love me (p. 276) Reflection
Elizabeth Barrett Browning's poem is striking because it is so straightforward. She is a woman that does not want her heart played with, and would rather the man be upfront on his feelings than trying to appease her with fluffy compliments. Although every woman has the desire of being adored, she wants his attention for "love's sake only" (2). Appreciating her smile, or laugh, her tone of voice, or her overall look is of little importance to her because she knows those qualities are capable of changing or fading away. She wants the man that is interested with her to love her out of love, because love is able to last for eternity if it is real.
Browning does not describe love, like the feeling she expects him or herself to get when they see each other, but she expects them to just know that it is love because it just is. There should be no reason why they feel this way for each other; the love just exists. She is telling this man that she will allow him the time to be with her only if he is able to feel this way, She is aware that love is a difficult thing and it cannot be contrived or controlled and she does not want the love that she experiences to be bent and construed so that it fits the mold of what love should be.
I admire how Browning is taking initiative, and she is not allowing the guy to manipulate the situation, instead she is setting the ground rules and if the guy that is interested cannot meet these standards, he is obviously not the right man for her because the ideal man for her will easily understand these goals.
Browning does not describe love, like the feeling she expects him or herself to get when they see each other, but she expects them to just know that it is love because it just is. There should be no reason why they feel this way for each other; the love just exists. She is telling this man that she will allow him the time to be with her only if he is able to feel this way, She is aware that love is a difficult thing and it cannot be contrived or controlled and she does not want the love that she experiences to be bent and construed so that it fits the mold of what love should be.
I admire how Browning is taking initiative, and she is not allowing the guy to manipulate the situation, instead she is setting the ground rules and if the guy that is interested cannot meet these standards, he is obviously not the right man for her because the ideal man for her will easily understand these goals.
Woman Work (271) Analysis
The speaker of this poem seems to be a slave, as well as, taking on the role of being a caregiver for her own family. She has the responsibility of taking care of everyone in the household, while holding down the entire home. It is her job to take care of everyone else, but she does not have the slightest of time to even think about what she wants out of life.
The first stanza has a rhyming scheme, "children to tend/clothes to mend/ cane to be cut/clean up this hut" (1-12). It is a sing-song approach because she takes on the identity of her chores. The reader does not see her behind the list of things to do, it is just a continuation of the day; sunrise to sunset of her working. The title "Woman Work" is derogatory because it seems that what she does is of little importance, that only a woman, in the eyes of a slave owner, only a woman of color, would be capable of doing such a tedious task because it involves little thinking. However, the work she is doing is the hardest work to do. The title seems to put woman below men, that their status could never be equal to that of a man.
The last three stanzas do not have a rhyme scheme; they instead focus on nature and the elements it includes. This is the speaker's desire to be seen as an individual opposed to the work that she must complete everyday. This could be her inner aspiration to break free of this monotonous lifestyle, and be one with nature and herself and her own thoughts. Nature has no rules or barriers and that is what the speaker wants to experience out of life because she has always had a responsibility and a duty to uphold. "Sun, rain, curving sky/ Mountain, oceans, leaf and stone/ Star shine, moon glow/You're all that I can call my own" (27-30). If she is unable to experience the freedom of work, she at least wants the opportunity to see the beauty of nature unfold and just be.
The first stanza has a rhyming scheme, "children to tend/clothes to mend/ cane to be cut/clean up this hut" (1-12). It is a sing-song approach because she takes on the identity of her chores. The reader does not see her behind the list of things to do, it is just a continuation of the day; sunrise to sunset of her working. The title "Woman Work" is derogatory because it seems that what she does is of little importance, that only a woman, in the eyes of a slave owner, only a woman of color, would be capable of doing such a tedious task because it involves little thinking. However, the work she is doing is the hardest work to do. The title seems to put woman below men, that their status could never be equal to that of a man.
The last three stanzas do not have a rhyme scheme; they instead focus on nature and the elements it includes. This is the speaker's desire to be seen as an individual opposed to the work that she must complete everyday. This could be her inner aspiration to break free of this monotonous lifestyle, and be one with nature and herself and her own thoughts. Nature has no rules or barriers and that is what the speaker wants to experience out of life because she has always had a responsibility and a duty to uphold. "Sun, rain, curving sky/ Mountain, oceans, leaf and stone/ Star shine, moon glow/You're all that I can call my own" (27-30). If she is unable to experience the freedom of work, she at least wants the opportunity to see the beauty of nature unfold and just be.
Woman Work (271) - Devices
Angelou uses repetition of the words "rest," "Til I can rest again/Let me rest tonight" (22-26) to show her exhaustion. It is not that she needs sleep or a nap to give her the energy to continue her work, but the necessity for her body, mind and spirit to be given the opportunity to be at peace. Every day she must follow the mundane schedule of cleaning, cooking, caring, fixing, making - not only for her own family, but it seems for her master's family as well. She wants the earth, from which she came, to give her that peace of mind and that rest that will give her the strength to continue her labor.
Angelou uses the senses of the seasons, having the reader feel the sun, the rain, and the "Cold icy kisses" (25) of the snow. She wants to be freed by these elements of nature. She feels connected to the land because she understands the burden mother nature must hold in providing shelter for all its living creatures. Nature is the only thing she truly feels bonded with "You're all that I can call my own" (30).
By using the repetition and the senses and imagery of nature, the reader is able to understand the stress the speaker must endure since everyday she is held to the same high standards of work.
Angelou uses the senses of the seasons, having the reader feel the sun, the rain, and the "Cold icy kisses" (25) of the snow. She wants to be freed by these elements of nature. She feels connected to the land because she understands the burden mother nature must hold in providing shelter for all its living creatures. Nature is the only thing she truly feels bonded with "You're all that I can call my own" (30).
By using the repetition and the senses and imagery of nature, the reader is able to understand the stress the speaker must endure since everyday she is held to the same high standards of work.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)