Part two

A Doll's house- Henrik Ibsen's play, commenting on the role of women in the household. Torvald, Nora's husband, treats her like a doll and his little pet, never truly understanding her. Years ago when he is sick Nora takes him to Italy and forges her father's signature. This criminal act becomes her darkest secret and when Mrs. Linde comes to town and Krogstad is in danger of losing his job, a series of events unfold leading to Torvald finding out. Instead of being a caring husband he immediately lashes out against her, quickly apologizing when he realizes that the situation can be fixed because Krogstad is not blackmailing them. Even though Torvald is willing to move past the incident, his reaction sparks something within Nora, causing her to see life as it truly is. She is no longer a doll and this exposure to reality causes her to abandon her family to find herself, a selfish but necessary act. 

Hamlet- William Shakespeare's play where Hamlet's uncle Claudius kills his father and marries his mother. This invasion in Hamlet's life drives him mad as all those around him plot his destruction. His friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern spy on him for payment and his love Ophelia ends their relationship in order to obey her father. This play demonstrates the infection that Claudius is to Denmark, his devil acts of murder and incest causing the country to rot and eventually collapse. The end of the novel ends with all of the characters dead except for Horatio, the voice of reason throughout the play. 

Invisible Man- Ralph Ellison's novel written about an unnamed narrator who moves to Harlem after being tricked by Dr. Bledsoe into thinking he would find a nice job because of his experience with Mr. Norton. The narrator eventually joins the Brotherhood, giving speeches to encourage people about unity. This novel goes much deeper than just the racial struggle in the time period, it also demonstrates oppression from authority and the struggle to acquire power. The narrator retreats and descends into a cave where he cleanses himself from society and all that he once valued, losing morality and his sanity along the way, still making his point valid because there is truth in madness. 

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (contemporary work)- Junot Diaz's novel narrated by Yunior commenting on Trujillo's corrupted reign over the Dominican Republic and the long lasting effects as seen through the de Leon family. A curse, fuku, brought on Abelard Cabral because of his resistance to submit to Trujillo's desire to see his daughter. Oscar, Lola, and Belicia suffer miserable lives at the hands of this curse, fighting against those who try to oppress them. 

The Importance of Being Ernest- This comical play written by Oscar Wilde is a "trivial comedy for serious people". Algernon and Jack act as doubles, paralleling eachother along with Ernest and Bunburry. Cecily and Gwendolyn also act as doubles in this play which repeats scenes between various doubles to increase the comical effect and to draw comparisons. This play criticizes the upper class's fixation on appearances. Wilde uses code and various puns to demonstrate his views on freedom of sexual orientation, religion, and marriage. 

Quick novel review. Part one

A quick review of the major works we've read this year in AP Lit- so that I don't space out on my exam...

Frankenstein- Mary Shelley's novel about Victor Frankenstein's abandoned creation demonstrates the relationship between victim/victimizer, creator/creation, and society/isolation. An allusion to the creation story, the creature and Adam turns vengeful against his creator and destroys Frankenstein's family because of his lonely and wretched life. Victor, a flawed character who creates the monster for his own prideful purposes, cowardly runs away and doesn't take responsibility for it, causing the consequence of the deaths of his friends and family. He refuses to build his creation a mate because he is ashamed of what he has done and because he wishes to continue holding the power in that relationship, rebelling against being under the control of his creation. He is chased to icy climes, eventually dying because of his arrogant actions in the beginning of the novel. The book is told as a story within the story of Walton, Victor's foil, writing letters to his sister. The DeLacey family, brief characters in the story of the creation, are parallels to the Frankenstein family and to the failed father/son relationship between Victor and his creation. Shelley demonstrates how society values the exterior, yet the lines for good and evil are not so obvious as Victor is the flawed creator and his creation is the wronged victim turned vengeful. 

Beowulf- This Anglo- Saxon epic poem translated by Seamus Heaney is the original story that Grendel is based off of. This poem demonstrates the cultural aspects of the people in that time period, the Chiatus, and the interlocking seen within the text as with within their culture. 

Grendel- John Gardner's novel about an angsty monster that murders humans in a nearby village demonstrates a battle between good and evil along with the shades of gray. While Grendel may be considered evil because of his actions, his unfortunate and isolated youth and his sense of not belonging lead to a deeper understanding of his conflict. He simply wishes to find a place in the world in which he feels to be an outsider, a superior onlooker, and the dragon provides this for him when he offers him a role as the humans' torturer. Although Grendel seems to give in to the evil dragon, his death leaves an ambiguous message as he tells the animals that he's had an accident and "so may you all". This is either a blessing or a curse as Grendel dies, wishing the same for those who watch. 

Age of Innocence- Edith Wharton's novel takes place in an era where society values appearances and form above sincerity and true love. She writes a story in which Newland Archer, a young lawyer, is to marry May Welland when her cousin Ellen Olenska comes to the city. Ellen is a rebellion against the society in many ways, from wishing for a divorce from her husband to the way she dresses, and Archer falls passionately in love with her. They carry a secret emotional affair, each attracted to the freedom the other represents. Archer, afraid of his future and of the commitment and oppression of society, runs to Ellen as an act of rebellion. Their passion differs greatly from his agreement with May, who he eventually marries and stays faithful to. She is manipulative in getting Archer to stay with her, but he chooses to remain there for many years after. At the end of the novel when no obstacles exist between Archer and Ellen he still chooses not to see her, preferring instead his fantasy world to the reality of being with her. Archer choosing May over Ellen demonstrates the importance of social responsibility. 

So I guess life's not a fairytale.

Throughout Junot Diaz's The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, a fuku cast by Trujillo prevents the de Leon family from acquiring freedom. All the characters search for a source of power and control over their own lives, wishing to find independence. The women search for their own identities, getting trapped by the men in their lives, and Oscar is trapped within himself, unable to find freedom because of inner conflict and a need to please others. 

Belicia Cabral, the "bad omen" baby, the "negrita", suffers an unfortunate fate that is predestined for her. The family curse is cast before she is even born, leaving her life to be a miserable consequence of her father Abelard's actions. She seeks out men in her youth to give her the luxurious life she desires and the freedom she craves. Her relationship with the gangster leaves her almost dead and forces Beli into exile. Her next relationship with the father of her children does not last long either. These failures in her love life force her to work for herself, never fully free in the world. She suffers from breast cancer and eventually does from it, slowly killed by the curse of unfortunate relationships. 

Lola, Oscar's sister, struggles to establish her own identity and find individuality, especially since her mother oppresses her and leaves her voiceless. She too turns to men to find a freedom from her controlling mother, never truly getting anywhere. Although Lola survives at the end of the novel, Yunior prophesies the curse to continue on in her daughter, never leaving her truly free. 

Lastly, Oscar's journey to overcome his internal struggle and establish his independence is long and seemingly without progress. Many try to shape Oscar into who they think he should be, unsuccessful in their attempts because he can only change if he wants to change. Yunior's mission to get him fit and find him women is self- centered and since Oscar doesn't want to do it for himself, he is physically unable to go on. Later on in the novel he is able to lose weight because of his choice to do so. Also, his desire to not be a virgin anymore is representative of him wishing to establish his manhood, breaking free from the control of others. Oscar finally does this at the end of the novel when he defies his entire family to go back to Ybon. Although this rash act does lead to him fullfilling his wishes and losing his virginity and therefore gaining independence in his life, it kills him. 

There can never be too much of a good thing, and Junot Diaz demonstrates this in each of the character's search for freedom in a time period where oppression was the norm. Trujillo's reign influences every aspect of the family's lives, demonstrating how a curse is not always resolved. Zafa is not always achieved, good does not always win, and people don't always get the opportunity to go to their dream school. So I guess life's not a fairytale. 

Rebirth in Invisible Man

Thoughout Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man, the narrator struggles with his identity. His inner turmoil is caused by a lack of freedom that he experiences as he is constantly controlled by outside forces.

In the middle of the novel the narrator goes through a period of rebirth after his explosion in the paint factory. This rebirth readies him to be manipulated and controlled by more forces, and instead of a natural birth, it is a mechanical one. A birth powered by electricity, representing the power that the forces in his life use to manipulate others. The explosion which causes his symbolic death happens because the pressure builds up, literally and symbolically, as the "needle on one of the gauges swinging madly, like a beacon gone out of control" (229). The pressure that weighs down on the narrator from the expectations and constant control of others causes him to explode. He wakes up in a hospital, with a doctor staring at him. He is referred to as an infant, with infant eyes as he recounts the experience. While he undergoes the procedure and he slips in and out of consciousness he mentions Beethoven's fifth symphony. The rhythmic beat of the song that he discusses almost sounds like a heartbeat. The song is even described to mean "fate knocking on the door", his rebirth. Next, the narrator is in a state of confusion about his identity, he thinks he is Brer Rabbit, a character from a children's story, and he confuses the machine as his mother, "mother, who was my mother? Mother, the one who screams when you suffer- but who?... But the scream came from the machine. A machine my mother?...Clearly, I was out of my head" (240). This machine-like birth demonstrates how society mechanized individuals, using them for specific purposes. Before the rebirth the narrator even describes himself as "We the machines inside the machines". Mechanizing his birth demonstrates that he is a product of unnatural means. He is only a part to be used in society, not meant to stand out. After his rebirth he is the perfect clean slate to be recruited by the brotherhood, needing a mentor in his state of infancy. 

Born again, the narrator is an infant susceptible to the control and manipulation of others. "he'll experience no major conflict of motives, and what is even better, society will suffer no traumata on his account". Perfect for him

to fall under the control of the brotherhood and not question society's authority and utter control. When he gives his first speech at the elderly couple's eviction, he picks up various objects from the ground that are aged objects about children. Baby's boots, a grandchild's postcard, and more are thrown onto the street as the narrator himself is going through his childhood. In this state of youth, the Brotherhood lures him in and teaches him, gives him a place to belong. They tell him that the old have fallen outside of history and convince him that he is their future. His rebirth carved the path for this to be able to happen. 

My college rant... Why not?

My little rant on the conflict caused by high tuition rates. 

The college process is a grueling one, and the past few months have been filled with stressful applications, an extraordinary amount of essays, and a lesson in patience. And ironically enough, result of this rollercoaster of emotions is another rollercoaster of emotions. 

After the utter euphoria that came with receiving a college acceptance, reality kicked in as I stared at the cruel, mocking numbers on my computer screen. Apparently, going to college costs a lot of money. With parents who dont believe in college funds and don't want me to take out student loans, all that's left for me to do is hope for the best. When discussing my future, I've heard from almost every adult in my life that I must "be practical", and that I don't yet understand what a burden it is to have to pay back thousands of dollars in loans. While I do see their point, and I do concede that their experience may lead them to be wise in this area, I simply cannot let go of my dreams. In a society where money is valued above all other things, some people can't comprehend why I would choose a tremendous amount of debt over  attending a school for practically nothing AND stay closer to home. 

But dreams are called dreams for a reason, they haunt us in the best way possible, and I feel passionate about achieving what I've worked for. The costs of attending the school I want to attend do not outweigh the higher level of education that I would receive compared to going to a local school. Even if I have to go through massive culture shock, be distanced from family and friends, and eat ramen noodles for the rest of my life, I would still rather go to the university I desire. Perhaps I see it differently because I'm not going to college to earn a degree in order to score a high paying job. I'm truly passionate about my education, I'm thirsty to learn and apply my knowledge somewhere where it counts, and this to me is more valuable than the money in my pocket. We only live on this earth for a limited number of days, and so many people live for green little printed sheets of paper. People surround their careers around it, make decisions by it, even kill for it. Maybe I'm still young and naive (granted, I've never had a job), but I'd like to believe that my life is going to be about more than superficial aspects such as money. I hope I'll be following my dreams, living in a way that makes an impact in the world, taking advantage of every moment I have on this earth and living it to the fullest.  

My conclusion is that if you're truly passionate about something, you sort out your priorities, and make the necessary sacrifices. Life is short, and there's no do-over where we can do all that we miss, so as cheesy as it sounds, follow your heart. 

Sonnet 67

Like as a huntsman after weary chase,
  Seeing the game from him escaped away,
  sits down to rest him in some shady place,
  with panting hounds, beguiled of their prey:
So, after long pursuit and vain assay,
  when I all weary had the chase forsook,
  the gentle deer returned the self-same way,
  thinking to quench her thirst at the next brooke.
There she, beholding me with milder look,
  sought not to fly, but fearless still did bide,
  till I in hand her yet half trembling took,
  and with her own good will her firmly tied.
Strange thing, me seemed, to see a beast so wild,

  so goodly won, with her own will beguiled.

Spenserian sonnets are based on Edmund Spenser's courtship of Elizabeth Boyle. They are written in a very intricate form, with an interlocking rhyme scheme. In sonnet 67, the speaker portrays the pursuit of love as a chase, comparing his adventures to a hunt. This Spenserian sonnet describes the object of his affections as his prey, comparing himself to the effortless hunter who ultimately claims victory by putting forth no effort at all. The intricate rhyme scheme in this sonnet demonstrates how intertwined our actions and efforts are, with one person's circumstances and efforts affecting another's choices.  

In sonnet 67, the first quadrant describes the "weary chase", where the hunter would sit down "with panting hounds, beguiled of their prey". At this point in the sonnet the hunter's chase seems hopeless and full of meaningless effort since the prey continues to escape from him. The prey in the poem is the woman which Spenser is courting, at first showing no interest in his pursuit and escaping from him. The hunter is discouraged from his chase, sitting under the shade to rest after a long, weary journey.  The second quadrant then illustrates how the prey, a deer, returns to where he sits to "quench her thirst". This demonstrates how after the hunter has given up his pursuit and sits down to rest, the deer comes back to him to fulfill its own needs. This compares to a loving pursuit between humans. Spenser is portraying this scene to show that when a person ceases to effortfully pursue someone else, the object of their affections will come to them, realizing how much they themselves care for the pursuer.  The last quadrant depicts a scene where the deer is captured "half trembling" yet "fearless". This image demonstrates the victory that the speaker holds in his chase for the prey, who has walked up to him and given itself over to him. The prey comes to the hunter by its own free will, ironic since this is at a point where the hunter has given up his pursuit. The same victory is seen between Spenser and the woman he courted, Elizabeth Boyle, who later on in life became his wife. Spenser must have ultimately stopped "chasing" her for her to realize how much she cared for him. 

The last couplet in the sonnet reads "strange thing, me seemed, to see a beast so wild/ So goodly won, with her own will beguiled". This demostrates the speaker's victory in his pursuit of the "game from him escaped away" earlier in the poem. The chase was won when the hunter finally ceased his efforts, leading the prey to realize how much it "thirsted" for him. These interlocked situations, a reaction from one action leading to another, are emphasized with Spenser's intricate rhyme scheme. Also, the idea of wanting what one cannot attain is seen clearly throughout the poem, first with the hunter, and then with the prey once it realizes it is no longer being chased, returning to the hands of the hunter. 

Something's Rotten in the State of Denmark

The amount of times that the motif "rotten" appears in Shakespeare's Hamlet is astounding. The word carries an incredible amount of meaning and can be interpreted in a multitude of ways. First of all, all the dead bodies in the play are "rank", dirty, and infested with worms. This can be seen in Polonius's death. As soon as Hamlet stabbed Polonius, his downward spiral began. It was the climax of the play and the next few acts were his undoing. When Hamlet commits this sin he begins to seem more mad, driven by a passionate rage. He jokes about Polonius's body being rotten to Claudius, but I think he could also be hinting at the underlying meaning of the word body. The body of Denmark, the political state itself, is rotting. As soon as Hamlet the "royal judge", the "savior" took the drastic step of murder, all hope was lost, and the political state began to unravel. It was rotten, ruined, and dead. This was demonstrated by the end of the play when almost all of the nobles, except for Horatio, are dead, and Fortinbras takes over. The final scene shows the consequences for Hamlet's actions. Why do Hamlet's actions have such catastrophic results? Hamlet's constant internal struggle between good and evil concluded as soon as he stabbed the fool behind the curtain, and evil wins within him. There is no turning back once he kills Polonius, causing him to commit to the purpose given to him from Hell. Evil won within his heart and took over Denmark. The infection spread rapidly from within and caused the destruction of the whole political state. The "something" rotten in the state of Denmark was definitely Hamlet.