Response to Course Material 2/10

Since the last response, we've basically watched another movie of Hamlet and have been reading Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead ever since. First off, I thought the concept of everyone being a heroine addict in Hamlet was very interesting. The acting and directing could have been much better, but the idea was cool. 

I'm kind of enjoying Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, too. I think the word play and interaction among the different characters is funny. However, I'm not really seeing a deeper meaning in this work. Maybe the point is that there is no deeper meaning? Maybe the author is just poking fun at/commenting on Shakespeare's play. Who knows. Ms. Holmes said that she's going to step back and let us do the interpreting, but if that seriously happens I doubt I'll get very far in analyzing this play.

Open Prompt Revision #1

Choose a character from a novel or play of recognized literary merit and write an essay in which you (a) briefly describe the standards of the fictional society in which the character exists and (b) show how the character is affected by and responds to those standards. In your essay do not merely summarize the plot.

It can easily be said that today’s society has much lower standards than those of generation’s past. With the rise of shows such as Jersey Shore and Keeping up With the Kardashians, one can hardly wonder why. It seems that few topics or behaviors are off limits any more. However, the same thing cannot be said for society in the 1800s. In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, which is set during this time period, characters abide by a much stricter set of rules. The main character, Elizabeth Bennet, struggles to conform to these strict societal standards as she worries about her family’s reputation.

In the novel, Elizabeth lives in a middle-upper-class household. The family’s mansion is located in the English countryside. Despite the rural setting, there are still distinct societal “rules” by which characters operate throughout the novel. First off, there are clear lines drawn between classes. People are expected to show respect and to honor those who are wealthier than them, and marriage between classes is generally frowned upon. Also, relations between the sexes must be kept extremely formal in public. Women in particular are supposed to be mild-mannered, proper, and to defer to the men. Another important thing to note is that, in this society, the poor choices of one member of a family inevitably bring disgrace to the whole family.

            Elizabeth is obviously greatly affected by these societal norms, but the responses she has to these constraints in the novel are extremely conflicted. She continuously struggles with her desire to rebel and do what she wants, and with her worry for the reputation of her family. This is to say that Elizabeth does not always follow the societal norms. For example, when Elizabeth’s sister, Jane, falls ill at Mr. Bingley’s mansion and is forced to stay there, Elizabeth treks through the mud and the woods to see Jane. She arrives at the mansion dirty and disheveled (which is considered completely inappropriate for calling on someone). However, Elizabeth cared more about seeing her sister so she completely disregarded the societal standards. Another example is when Lady Catherine tells Elizabeth to not marry Darcy, (Lady Catherine's very wealthy nephew), and Elizabeth refuses. Even though Elizabeth should have submitted to her superior’s demands, she does what she wants instead. Despite this, Elizabeth still cares about her and her family’s reputations. The biggest case in point is how she freaks out when her sister Lydia runs away with an officer. She becomes terrified about how this scandal will harm her family’s reputation. While Elizabeth doesn’t follow every standard society expects of her, she remains cognizant of how her actions—and the actions of family members—will affect her family’s reputation.

            Over all, Elizabeth does attempt to follow the standards that society expects her to follow. She also worries about how society views her family. However, Elizabeth is only human, meaning she does slip up and doesn’t always follow the impossible rules and standards. If she did, Pride and Prejudice wouldn’t be a very realistic portrayal of society, would it?

Hamlet Analysis

Author Shakespeare

Setting Elsinore, the kingdom in Denmark.

Characters

-Hamlet: Prince of Denmark, son of the late king and of Gertrude. Thinks and ponders a lot. Considers committing suicide.

-Claudius: King of Denmark, Hamlet’s uncle. Married to Gertrude. Murdered brother who was the late king of Denmark (old Hamlet).

-Ghost: old Hamlet. Not sure whether he is Hell- or Heaven-sent.

-Gertrude: Originally married to old Hamlet. Re-married to Claudius a couple months after old Hamlet’s death. Mother to Hamlet.

-Polonius: Basically the right-hand-man/spy of Claudius. Worries and cares for children. Hopes to have more power one day.

-Laertes: Son of Polonius. Rash in action. Hamlet’s foil. Truly loves sister—possibly in a romantic way.

-Ophelia: Polonius’s daughter. Dispute over how innocent she really is. More loyal to Polonius than she is to Hamlet.

-Horatio: Hamlet’s close friend. Possibly has a bromance with Hamlet.

-Fortinbras: Rash and hot-headed. Hamlet’s foil. Prince of Norway.

Plot

The play opens with two guards, Marcellus and Barnardo, and Horatio talking. They mention how old Hamlet killed old Fortinbras, and took some of his lands. This introduces young Fortinbras, who apparently wants to start a rebellion against Denmark. The ghost of old Hamlet then enters, but leaves without saying anything. Horatio decides to tell Hamlet of the Ghost. The scene switches to the court. Claudius tries to justify his quick marriage to Gertrude, and tells Laertes he can leave for France. Hamlet enters, and it’s clear he disapproves of the Queen’s marriage. Later, Horatio tells Hamlet of the Ghost. That night, Horatio takes Hamlet to see it, and the Ghost tells Hamlet that Claudius murdered him. Hamlet decides to avenge his father, and to act crazy so no one suspects his true intentions. The scene switches to Ophelia telling Polonius about Hamlet. She is worried because Hamlet came to her acting crazy. Polonius decides that it’s because Hamlet’s is mad with love for her, and goes to tell the King. They make a plan to figure out if he really is mad with love. Later, as Hamlet is walking through the castle, Opehlia enters. She tries to return the letters he sent her. Hamlet is aware Polonius and Claudius are spying, and says he never loved her. He also breaks off their secret engagement. That evening, Hamlet puts on a play that mirrors Claudius’s murder and Gertrude’s marriage. He watches Claudius’s reaction to confirm that he’s guilty. The Queen later summons Hamlet to her chamber to scold him. Hamlet ends up scolding her for re-marrying to Claudius, and kills Polonius (who was spying behind a curtain). Gertrude seems genuinely regretful for her actions. The King finds out that Hamlet murdered Polonius, and sends Hamlet to England. Meanwhile, Ophelia has gone insane. There is evidence that she might have slept with Hamlet, and that she might be pregnant. Meanwhile, Horatio receives a letter from Hamlet that he’s returning to Denmark. By this point Laertes has returned, and wants vengeance. Claudius and Laertes plot to kill Hamlet with a poisoned sword—and if that doesn’t work, poisoned wine. The Queen comes in and interrupts to say that Ophelia has drowned herself. They go to bury her. Hamlet and Horatio see the procession and reveal themselves. Laertes and Hamlet begin fighting, but are broken apart. Back at Elsinore, Laertes challenges Hamlet to a duel, and Hamlet accepts. During the duel, the Queen drinks some of the poisoned wine and dies. Hamlet finds out it was Claudius who poisoned it, and promptly kills him. Both Laertes and Hamlet had been knicked by the poisoned sword while fighting. Laertes dies first, Hamlet second. Horatio wants to commit suicide, but Hamlet stops him. Young Fortinbras enters with an army, and instructs captains to bear Hamlet, not Claudius, like a soldier on stage.

Style

-no narrative voice because it is a play

-Shakespeare doesn’t really have a point of view in Hamlet. He doesn’t really try to push people in one direction with his writing. He leaves many things open for interpretation instead.

-writes in blank verse iambic pentameter

Quotes

-“To be, or not to be: that is the question:/ Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer/ The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,/ Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,/ And by opposing end them.” –Hamlet

This quote pretty much exemplifies Hamlet’s relationship with and curiosity about death. He contemplates death and suicide a lot in the play.

-“Bear Hamlet like a soldier to the stage,/ For he was likely, had he been put on,/ To have proved most loyal…” –Fortinbras

This quote was interesting because Fortinbras, with no knowledge of what had gone down at Elsinore, immediately picked out Hamlet as the kingly figure. The line helped characterize Hamlet, and it showed the huge tragedy this play was. Hamlet could have made a great king, but he never got the chance.

Theme

One theme in Hamlet is the internal conflict of “who am I?”. Many characters have this internal struggle, Hamlet in particular. He constantly battles with himself over what course of action he should take. For example, he struggles to decide whether to live or to kill himself, and whether it’s okay for him to kill Claudius or not. This struggle reaches a climax when Horatio reprimands him for not even caring that he sent Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to their deaths. That’s when Hamlet figures out who he is and moves forward more sure of himself.

Response to Course Materials 1/13

Hamlet. Hamlet. And more Hamlet! We have spent a ton of time with this play this past month, yet I still feel like we haven't even made a dent in Shakespeare's Hamlet. Most of the time (my annotations included) has been spent just trying to decode what the characters are saying. The "deeper meaning behind it all" simply goes over my head, even more so than usual. One thing that I've noticed is just how many ways there are to interpret the play. Does Ophelia have an agenda, or is she innocent? Does Hamlet actually love Ophelia? Speaking of Hamlet, is he gay? What about that bromance Horatio and Hamlet have going on (I mean, Horatio wants to commit suicide in the end when Hamlet dies)? Did Gertrude and King Hamlet really have a great relationship? And, last but not least, how insane is Hamlet? GAH. So many ways to interpret this play, and most (if not all) of them are correct. I haven't made up my mind about most of these--except I don't think Hamlet is gay. That's just...no.

It was actually helpful and interesting to see the movie versions of Hamlet. I thought the first one was good because it seemed to be more in the middle interpretation-wise. However, I enjoyed the second one a lot more. Ms. Holmes thinks that's because the scenery and people are prettier, but I really just thought the acting was a lot more fun. Plus, I liked that the director played around with interpreting the play and put his own spin on it! It made me react and think about whether I agreed with him or not. I must say, my favorite scene was when Ophelia was handing out flowers, but the director made the flowers imaginary...I thought that was really well-done.

Anyway, I suppose we'll be wrapping up Hamlet soon and then preparing to die on the terms-test final. Awesome.

Close Reading #4

Mike Adams: A Queer Need for Rejection

http://www.afa.net/Blogs/BlogPost.aspx?id=2147529920

            These days, Gay rights are obviously a much-disputed issue. In “Mike Adams: A Queer Need for Rejection,” Adams focuses in on homosexual activism. He argues that homosexuals are activists who only try to join religious organizations for their own political benefit, and that they’re trying to repress peoples’ freedom of speech, among other things. Adams develops his scathing message about homosexuals through his use of details, diction, and syntax.

            Adams is careful in the details that he chooses to include. Specifically, he chooses to talk about the civil rights movement, and relate that to the Gay rights movement that is going on today. He writes that the civil rights movement “has become little more than a mechanism used to suppress political speech,” and then writes “redefining homophobia now serves the same function.” By choosing to relate the civil rights movement to homosexual activists, Adams strengthened his message because it provides people with an example to compare this current issue with. Plus, the whole idea of suppressing “political speech” makes the homosexual rights movement seem unconstitutional, which further makes the movement seem like a bad thing to readers.

             Perhaps Adams biggest ally in creating his message was diction. First off, he never once refers to the homosexual activists as people. Adams uses words like “they,” “homosexuals” and “activists,” but never once as even “these people.” This helps to de-humanize homosexuals, which makes readers sympathize a whole lot less with Gay people. This divide grew even wider when Adams appealed to the readers, writing “isn’t that similar to what we have seen…” This strengthens Adams message because it makes homosexual activists seem like these aliens, these things that simply don’t belong with “us.” At that point, it would be easier for readers to believe Adams’ message.

            Finally, the author uses a lot of sentence variety to lend more legitimacy to his writing. For example, Adams writes “so they become targets of homosexual activism. Paradoxically, homosexual activists also target conservative Christians because being rejected by them is an important part of the process…” It is sentence structure like this that makes him come across as more educated, and therefore as having more of a legitimate opinion. Because of this, readers are more likely to believe the message, no matter what the message actually is. If someone were to read one opinion in a People magazine, and an opinion on the same issue by a Harvard professor, they would be more apt to believe the Harvard professor, no matter what either of the opinions said.

            In other words, Adams’ opinion/message is helped greatly by his use of these three techniques. His view that the homosexual rights movement is completely stupid and even repressive is obviously extremely strong. However, he gets that message across easier and more persuasively to readers through his almost clever use of details, diction, and syntax.

Open Prompt #4

1990. Choose a novel or play that depicts a conflict between a parent (or a parental figure) and a son or daughter. Write an essay in which you analyze the sources of the conflict and explain how the conflict contributes to the meaning of the work. Avoid plot summary.

Conflicts between parents and their children are a common occurrence. However, a conflict that spans many years and continuously deepens is more unusual and significant. In Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, such a conflict arises between Willy and his son, Biff. Their conflict begins with Biff catching his father having an extramarital affair, and deepens as the play continues. This conflict contributes greatly to the overall theme of illusions versus reality present in Death of a Salesman.

The conflict between Biff and Willy begins when Biff catches Willy having an affair with another woman in Boston. This event is when Biff loses his innocence and is forced to open his eyes to who his father really is. Before, he looked up to and worshipped Willy. After this event, however, Biff never again looks up to his father in the same way. Willy is also drastically changed by this event. He is terrified that he has lost his son’s love and respect. This change in their once almost lover-esque relationship is what begins the conflict.

                  Their conflict deepens as Willy tries to live his own dreams through Biff, and Biff refuses. Throughout Death of a Salesman, Biff expresses his desire to move out west and live on a farm. He does not want to stay in the city and become a salesman like his father. However, for Willy, living out west isn’t good enough. In his mind, Biff needs to go into business and become wealthy and respected. This dream that Willy has for Biff stems from his own shortcomings. Biff represents this savior for Willy, his last hope for true success. Biff tries to appease his father for a short time, but then decides to live the life he wants instead. Biff’s decision to refuse his father’s wishes stems back to when he caught Willy having the affair in Boston. Before that event, had Willy told Biff to go into business, Biff probably would have gone along. Perhaps that might be the biggest reason for their conflict: Willy wants to control Biff, but he no longer can.

                  Willy and Biff’s conflict contributes to the meaning of Death of a Salesman because it contributes to the overall theme of illusions versus reality. When Biff sees his father having an affair, Biff suddenly stops believing all of his father’s lies. His eyes are opened to the reality that his father is not perfect, and that he’s not an amazing salesman. As Biff and Willy’s conflict later deepens, Willy continuously tries to pull Biff back under this illusion that Biff was great in business and has these connections. Biff, on the other hand, tries to pull his father out of the illusion that he could still be this great businessman. He tries to open his father’s eyes to the reality of their situation.

                  Overall, the fracture in Willy and Biff’s relationship is extremely deep. What begins as a fight between Biff and Willy when Biff catches his father cheating turns into a bitter, irreconcilable conflict between the two of them. Biff’s refusal to appease Willy’s illusions contributes to a theme of illusions versus reality that is very much present in the play. 

Death of a Salesman Analysis

Author Arthur Miller

Setting 1940s, post-World War 2. The majority of the play takes place in the Loman’s house, which is located in New York. Willy’s “flashbacks” occur somewhere in the 1920s.

Characters

-Willy Loman: salesman, married to Linda. Has as affair with “the woman.” Willy is extremely proud and refuses to accept reality. Has flashbacks throughout the play.

-Linda: Extremely loyal to Willy. Treats Willy like he’s her baby, and blames Biff for what’s happening to him.

-Biff: Son of Willy and Linda. Has Jesus-like qualities, but considered “expired” because he’s 34, not 33. Wants to be a farmer, but Willy doesn’t approve.

-Happy: Son of Willy and Linda. Neither parent really cares about him.

-Bernard: Charley’s son. Worked hard throughout school and is now a successful lawyer.

-The Woman: woman that Willy has an affair with.

-Charley: Willy’s neighbor. Offers Willy a job, and helps him out financially.

-Uncle Ben: Willy’s extremely successful brother. Dead. Often appears in Willy’s flashbacks.

Plot

The play opens with Willy returning early from a business trip. Linda comes in, worried that Willy smashed the car again. Willy and Linda talk about Biff, and Willy makes it clear that he thinks Biff should be in business (not farming). Meanwhile, Happy and Biff are conversing in their own room. They talk about sleeping with women, jobs, and their concerns for Willy. Biff says he wants to buy a ranch and work on a farm. During this, Willy has gone down to the kitchen and is having a flashback. In this scene, Biff and Happy both worship Willy. However, it is clear that Linda and Willy are in debt, and that Willy is insecure with his abilities as a salesman. The scene then switches to Willy in a hotel room with a woman. They kiss and he gives her stockings. The scene switches back to the previous flashback, and Willy gets angry with Linda for mending her stockings. Then he gets mad that Biff is flunking math and “rough with the girls.” Willy comes back to the present, and notices Happy is now in the kitchen. He’s dismissive of Happy’s attempts to comfort him, and then Charley enters the scene. Charley and Willy play cards, and Willy begins having a conversation with an imaginary Ben mainly about Ben’s financial success. Charley and Willy fight, and Charley leaves. Willy flashes back again and worries that he isn’t raising his boys correctly, and asks Ben for his approval. He walks out of the house, past Linda, and continues talking with himself. Biff and Happy come down and notice that something is wrong with Willy. Linda admits that Willy has been trying to kill himself. Willy enters the house, angry at Biff. Biff tells him that he’s going to see Bill Oliver tomorrow to go into business, and Willy becomes excited. After some more talk, everyone goes to bed.

The following day, Willy wakes up happy and drives into the city to talk with his boss, Howard. He asks to be transferred to a job in the city that wouldn’t require travelling. Howard refuses, and fires Willy. Willy lapses back to the time when Ben offered him a job in Alaska. Meanwhile, he walks to Charley’s work building, and runs into Bernard. He asks Bernard why Biff threw his life away, and Bernard pins it back to when Biff visited Willy in Boston. Charley comes out and gives Willy money for the week. Willy admits that he’d be worth more dead than alive.  The scene switches then, with Happy and Biff waiting in a restaurant for their dad. Biff says Oliver didn’t even remember him, and asks Happy to help him tell Willy the truth. Willy arrives, but refuses to listen, so Biff lies and says that he has lunch with Oliver tomorrow. Willy exits to the bathroom, and Biff angrily leaves the restaurant. Happy follows with two women. Willy flashes back to the hotel room and the woman. Biff walks in to talk about failing math, and discovers that his father is having an affair. Willy comes back to the present, and leaves the restaurant to go buy seeds. The scene changes, and Happy and Biff enter the house. Linda yells at them for leaving Willy in the restaurant. Biff goes out to talk with Willy. They fight, and Biff ends up crying to Willy, begging him to let him go. Willy is thrilled to realize that Biff “likes” him. Everyone goes to bed except Willy, who leaves in his car and kills himself.

In the requiem, Biff, Linda, Charley, Happy and Bernard attend Willy’s funeral. Biff reveals he’s leaving the city, but Happy decides to stay in the city.

Style

-There is no narrative voice in this piece because it is a play.

-Miller apparently has a negative point of view towards the capitalistic system in the United States. I didn’t get this as much from reading the play, so much as from reading the outside interviews.

-He doesn’t use imagery that often, which might be why this play isn’t as impactful as, say, The American Dream.

-There is definitely symbolism throughout the play. Two prime examples of this are Willy and Linda. Because what Willy Loman sells is never specified, Willy himself becomes this universal character that symbolizes the plight of the working businessman. Linda comes to represent the “Madonna” that men of the time period married.

Quotes

1.     “Attention, attention must be finally paid to such a person” (Miller 56). –Linda, referring to Willy

v Comment on how people in general have a duty to one another. Also a comment on how business has discarded Willy (read: capitalism/business=cold and bad)

2.     “He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine” (Miller 138). –Charley, referring to Willy

v This line simply intrigues me, because it doesn’t sound like something Charley would say. It also makes Willy seem like this helpless, lost ship. This furthers Biff’s point that Willy was always “lost” in the sense that he never had the right dreams.

Theme

Capitalism=bad.

This is a central theme Miller explores in DOS. One main way he develops this theme is through plot. Obviously, Willy lives in the USA, and therefore lives in a capitalistic society. Throughout the novel, he tries to appeal to peoples’ emotions and sentiments. However, he fails every time. For example, when Willy pleads with Howard for his job, Willy tries to bring up how he’s known Howard since he was a baby. However, this has zero effect on Howard. The fact of the matter is that business is cold, impersonal and cut-throat. Miller furthers this theme with the dialogue/character development of Linda. Linda constantly comments on how attention must be paid to Willy, that society and her sons need to help him because Willy is a human. Like Willy, she tries to get people in this capitalistic society to realize that people have a duty to help each other. However, this is lost on a lot of people. Happy and Biff don’t help much with supporting their own father, Howard treats Willy like dirt, and business itself helps drive Willy towards his death. All of this business and greed is a comment on capitalism itself. Miller portrays this capitalistic society as completely void of empathy.