Ethan's lesson

Ethan’s poems were definitely hard-hitting. I felt a connection to both poems, but the second one spoke to me more. As far as a time when I have felt fear or different when in a group was when I came to University freshmen year. Coming from a small, farm community I had not been introduced to so many different types of people. Its not that I had never traveled outside of Boone county, but I never was placed in an environment so different where I had to interact. At first I thought that I would need to change my appearance or self to fit in, but I learned quickly that being myself was best. I am still different from most of my class, but I have gained many friends over the years. As I head to college I am glad to have came here and know that it will be easy to interact and make friends there. These two poems want you to be great and proud of who you are. You must excel at what you know best and stay true to your origin. There is a plan for all of us, and I can’t wait to start the next chapter in my life.

The Story of An Hour

Of course we knew that Kate Chopin would never fail us in any story. Feminism and hate for the husband is always her “cup of tea”. Looking at the similarities in “The Story of An Hour” and The Awakening is very simple to see. Mrs. Mallard and Edna have not so similar qualities, but have traits that can be connected. Both are young women who resent the power of their husbands. They aim to “escape” and become “free” from the shackles that their husbands have grasped them. In the short story, Mrs. Mallard is delighted while sorrowful of the supposed death of her husband. She becomes giddy and feels that freedom has finally come to her. Edna and her only sometimes loved their husbands and the short story highlights this in Mrs. Mallard. More interesting is that both women die at the end. They both exemplify breaking points in their life where too much freedom actually takes over their bodies, and when control is reintroduced they can not handle it. The very sight of Mr. Mallard kills Mrs. Mallard. It really makes you wonder why Kate Chopin even has marriages in her stories. In the end they always end up in disaster and actually never were true marriages to begin. I have never seen such situations in my life where love never really was a part of a marriage, but yet Chopin seemed to think that’s the way it was.

Tiger or Lady

Interesting is what this short story is. There really is no way to decide how the story will end. The princess is making the decision for him and one can not predict how she will choose. I would predict that the lady would be behind the door chosen for him. As the story states, the human heart leads us to make our decision. Passion would keep the princess from killing her lover out of the fact she couldn’t bare to see him viciously eaten by the tiger. Many people during class actually discussed the idea that maybe the man would kill the woman that came out of the door and the princess and man would run away together. To me, this would seem very illogical, but could happen. Love makes people do crazy things. On a side note I didn’t really care for this story. It seemed that it went on in extreme detail that was not needed. Also, the ending explanation in the story of the human heart and how it describes how she might make her decision could be taken out. It doesn’t due the reader any good, because it basically states how she will make her decision. No imagination is left to the mind.

Act III: 2

This scene of Gloucester’s unfortunate loss is very gruesome and disgraceful. No respect is shown to Gloucester even in his own home. The plucking of the eyes takes place while fighting continues and people are dying. Nothing but dramatic violence and gore is happening to cater to the storm and rage of the entire Act. This section of the novel is entirely consumed in the frustrations of the families and how all the problems are now starting to blend together. This violence brings together the rage that everyone has kept inside. It is the best way that Shakespeare could express the true emotions that the novel includes. I tend to believe that this display of violence was quite necessary for the full affect of the novel to be experienced and felt. I don’t think we could fully appreciate this work without the vile display Shakespeare creates. Graphic violence is necessary in slasher films and GTA. With slasher films the entire aspect of the film is killing, blood, and guts. It is called a horror for a reason. This type of film needs the gore for the fright factor. However, it is different with GTA. Including gore here adds the realistic affect. When such actions as killings or beatings happen in the real world blood, broken bones, and dismemberment occur. This game has felt the need to add this reality. I am not saying I support the aspect of the game, but I think the creators made a good decision in order to sell the game. Graphic violence has a place in films, games, and novels when it has to be present for the dramatic affect or to be as realistic as possible. This display is not something that should be thrown about nonchalant. Graphic violence should not be used as humor. It is a serious matter. Shakespeare used the violence correctly and made the ending of Act III memorable.

ACT II: 4

4. France: “Cordelia, my love, it has been some time since your father and sisters have seen or heard from you. What are you planning to do about the turmoil that your sisters are creating?” Cordelia: “I do not know what I will do, but I have kept close watch on all of their actions. It is terrible the way my sisters are treating my father. I hope to reach my father and let him know that I still love him and want to help him. Even though he banished me and gave away my portion of the lands, he still is my father.” France: “I am amazed that after all your father has done to you, there is still love that you have for him. You are truly a fine person.” Cordelia: “He is my father. I love him no matter what he does. My sisters should be concerned about what I am going to do to them. They have no right to be doing these things to father. He is the one who gave them everything and they would be penniless peasants without him. No man would want them either without the money land they possess.” France: “You are very wise. What do you plan to do next? Cordelia: “I think I must go to back to Britain and try to handle this situation. My father is in danger if my sisters continue on their “war path”. It is my duty to save him from their treacherous actions.” France: “If you feel you must become involved in this rubbish then do as you must. Just know that you are putting yourself in harms way. Your sisters are stopping at nothing. Cordelia: “This is my father and I can not let him suffer. It would kill me to know that I could have prevented something bad from happening to him.”

ACT II: 2

2. The actions of Goneril and Reagan are not very simple to understand or explain. In essence they are two-faced, evil women who will do anything to achieve their goals. The beginning of the novel shows a lighter and more compassionate side of the girls when they must confess their “love” to gain the lands of their father. However, we quickly see that they have no such feelings and are eager to gain the title of Queen. No one can really put a direct reason for why people act this way. Some people are just born evil and know no other way of acting than to be ruthless. To the sisters’ account, Lear is not the best father in the world. He needed his daughters to say how much they loved him and compete for his land. A normal father knows that his children love him and should treat them with the same love. Evil in people is bred into them and no one can control the path that these people take. Resentment that children have for their parents can be caused by a behavior they have seen or something that has happened to them in their childhood. Goneril and Reagan could have been treated badly by Lear and have never forgiven him or the power to rule has gotten the best of them. The relationship between child and parent is very powerful and it can be a parent’s worst nightmare or the best thing that ever happened to them. The bond that exists between child and parent is something that can never exist anywhere else. Children and parents can do many things to each other, but in the end the love still exists. The evilness of these two girls won’t prevent Lear from loving them.

Act 1: 3

The relationship between Cordelia and King Lear is quite intriguing. Cordelia is ordered to express her love for her father, but yet she has no words to describe it. Lear punishes her for not saying a word by giving away her share of the land. King Lear does love Cordelia, but he is a man of constant appreciation. He needs to hear good things about himself to function normally in his life. When Cordelia has no words to express her love, Lear becomes enraged and acts without thinking. It is this essence constant gratitude that forbids Lear to understand the love that Cordelia possesses. Lear should realize that more love comes from not having words to describe it than to have over expressed words that limit love. However, Cordelia should have “played the game” to keep her rightful inheritance. Cordelia’s purity and honesty will pay off in the end, but it has hurt her presently. I personally have been involved in a situation where you must play the game, but I didn’t give in to it just like Cordelia. I was in a class where you had to kiss up to the teacher to get the good grade that you wanted. I have always refused to play the game. Working hard to earn my grade means more to me than to obtain by pleasing someone. This specific situation showed me that grades are not always about the work you do, but I make it that way. I personally have never used this type of manipulation against someone else. It is degrading to others who work hard to obtain a goal to just give away grades. King Lear and Cordelia have a father-daughter bond that is quite different from most. Cordelia remains faithful to her father; even though, he has treated her with no respect.