The Resolution

"I shall die, and what I now feel be no longer felt. Soon these burning miseries will be extinct. I shall ascend my funeral pile triumphantly and exult in the agony of the torturing flames. The light of that conflagration will fade away; my ashes will be swept into the sea by the winds. My spirit will sleep in peace, or if it thinks, it will not surely think thus. Farewell" (pg 211).

Oh my lanta!! I admit...this book was decently boring up until the last two chapters. I want to know what the heck Walton was going on in Walton's mind when he was faced with this story of two monsters (other than what was said in the letters of course). If I were him, I would feel like I was in some sort of dream. Not only did he randomly find this dude who created life with this bare hands...but he found the creation, too, which had killed off all of the creator's family. Insanity. After reading the last chapter, I had trouble deciding whose side I was on in the end: Victor or the monster? Honestly, I think that they ended up having the same personality. They were both benevolent people to begin with. Victor worked hard in his studies and cared deeply for his family, but ended up being alone and miserable in the end. The monster desired to learn language and love from the cottagers, but he ended up being alone and miserable in the end, too. The novel seemed like a big long description of the two characters chasing each other around, trying to get revenge. To be honest, they could have been each other's good friends had they given the other the chance. I enjoyed the book for the most part; however, the complaining and whining about misery grew old after awhile.

Benevolence/Malevolence

"...I saw at the open window a figure the most hideous and abhorred. A grin was on the face of the monster; he seemed to jeer, as his fiendish finger he pointed towards the corpse of my wife. I rushed towards the window, and drawing a pistol from my bosom, fired; but he eluded me, leaped from his station, and running with the swiftness of lightning, plunged into the lake" (pg 187).

Earlier in the novel, I blogged about my feelings of sympathy towards the monster and state of loneliness...and I am sure that I was not the only one who felt bad for the poor, "wretched" monster. After this scene, though, where he guiltlessly murders Elizabeth, my feelings have changed a bit. I think this is why the creation of Frankenstein is such an interesting character. He evokes different emotions from the audience at different times in the story. For example, towards the middle, the audience could relate to his hurt and agony, but now they despise him for his evil acts. In my opinion, Mary Shelley uses the monster as a perfect portrayal of society. The monster shows both benevolence and malevolence (lack of benevolence) that society maintains. Although difficult for us to admit, we are created to be benevolent beings; however, it is easier to be malevolent after enduring hardships. This is why it is easy for the audience to relate with Frankenstein's monster.

Suspense

"Sometimes I thought that the fiend followed me and might expedite my remissness by murdering my companion. When these thoughts possessed me, I would not quit Henry for a moment, but followed him as his shadow, to protect him from the fancied rage of his destroyer. I felt as if I had committed some great crime, the consciousness of which haunted me. I was guiltless, but I had indeed drawn down a horrible curse upon my head, as mortal as that of crime" (pg 155).

Okay, seriously Frankenstein??? What in the world are you doing skipping around Europe when you have a monster to please??? Not only does Frankenstein tick me off during this scene, but he is acting absolutely stupid, too! He has almost waited a year before beginning to create the female monster when he knows the consequences of his actions. HIS FUTURE WIFE IS AT STAKE! Does he not understand that putting this task off will inflict suffering and death on other people besides himself?? How could he be so selfish!!!?? Anyway...the last line of the quote left me with suspense. He did not say he "might have" drawn down a horrible curse upon his head, but he INDEED had drawn down a horrible curse upon his head. This line is one of the reasons I had trouble putting the book down before falling asleep last night. Frankenstein knows how to draw his audience in at the right time. Because of his cliffhangers, the audience pays attention to more detail and foreshadowing in order to figure out the result of his neglect. Now, I want to know if the female monster is ever created...or if it is created in time to please the creature. If Elizabeth ends up dead because of Frankenstein's ignorance...I'm going to be so angry.

Foreshadowing

"For a few moments I gazed with delight on her dark eyes, fringed by deep lashes, and her lovely lips; but presently my rage returned; I remembered that I was forever deprived of the delights that such beautiful creatures could bestow and that she whose resemblance I contemplated would, in regarding me, have changed that air of divine benignity to one expressive of digust and affright" (pg 136).

In this scene, when the monster revels at the beauty of William's mother, he reflects on his lonely life where he does not get to experience the affection of a woman. After he describes the beauty of the woman in the picture, I knew that he was trying to foreshadow his desire for a woman of his own. I knew that somehow he was going to attain a female companion of his own. Sure enough, at the end of the chapter, he requests the creation of a woman to Frankenstein. This request reminded me of one of the Frosty the Snowman episodes shown on ABC Family during the Christmas season. There is one episode where the kids roll up another snowman, or snowwoman, to be Frosty's wife so that he is not alone when the kids go inside after dark. They are both lonely, strange creatures with kind hearts that deserve someone to acknowledge them. It will be interesting to see IF the female monster is ever created, and what she will look like if she is created. Will they be happy together? Or will it be the disaster that Frankenstein predicted?

Theme: Loneliness

"Who can describe their horror and consternation on beholding me? Agatha fainted, and Safie, unable to attend o her friend, rushed out of the cottage. Felix darted forward, and with supernatural force tore me from his father, to whose knees I clung...But my heart sank within me as with bitter sickness, and I refrained...I quitted the cottage, and in the general tumult escaped unperceived to my hovel" (pg 129).

Of course, as any other human being with a heart, I felt sympathy towards the creature while he told his story. However, this particular scene, a great example of a main theme (loneliness), had me sitting up in bed with my eyes glued to the text. I had high hopes for the monster when he chose to introduce himself to the cottagers. By the routine of their daily lives, they seemed open-hearted and kind, and I guessed that they would take the monster in as a friend. Obviously, I am too optimistic at times. Their rejection of the monster not only made him he feel alone, abandoned, and hopeless, but it made me feel hopeless for the monster, too. He honestly is not asking for much! In fact, I think he has worked for the cottagers for so long that he deserves more than acceptance...he deserves a friend or a companion. I have not finished the novel, but I do know that the monster has asked Frankenstein to create him a woman with a similar appearance. To me, this is the saddest part. He must ASK to have someone CREATED in order for him to feel less lonely. If Frankenstein understands his story and feels sympathy, too, then why doesn't he take the monster in as his friend?

Elizabeth and Victor

"And when, on the morrow, she presented Elizabeth to me as her promised gift, I, with childish seriousness, interpreted her words literally and looked upon Elizabeth as mine--mine to protect, love, and cherish. All praises bestowed on her I received as made to a possession of my own..."

I am sure that this is a common topic or question among the audience: what is the relationship between Victor and Elizabeth? Although they refer to each other throughout the first half of the novel as "cousin," there seems to be more there than family relations. Victor continues to describe Elizabeth as someone who was "more than a sister" but that leaves so much room for interpretation. Does he mean that he loves her in a different way than a sister? Or does it mean that they are just really close? Although it would be sort of creepy if they had romantic feelings toward one another, I almost think it would be kind of cute. Technically, they are not related and have grown up side-by-side; therefore, they already know one another and care for one another. But how would there family react? Would they expect a romantic relationship to form between to the two of them, or would they be completely surprised? Ahh the suspense! I secretly hope they get together, and that she does not die (because that is what people are telling me will most likely happen). I am going to remain positive, and hope for a happy ending between the two, even though Victor makes it clear that he winds up miserable.

Annoyance

"I see by your eagerness and the wonder and hope which your eyes express, my friend, that you expect to be informed of the secret with which I am acquainted; that cannot be; listen patiently until the end of my story, and you will easily perceive why I am reserved upon that subject. I will not lead you on, unguarded and ardent as I then was, to your destruction and infallible misery..." (51-52)

One aspect of the novel that I have found rather annoying, is Frankenstein's tendency to leave out important (in my opinion) and interesting information. When describing his work and time spent creating the monster, I was waiting for details as to the method he used to form the monster. However, he tells the audience that providing that information would lead to misery. In other words, his creation of the body led to his own misery. After reading this quote, my curiosity sparked, and I wanted to know why obtaining such information would lead to unhappiness. It's rather odd to me that he has worked so hard in his studies and career, and all of the knowledge he has spent time attaining, has come back to haunt him. It scares me actually. To know that I may one day work so hard for something, and it only leads to misery. Anywho, I just want to know if he reveals to his family and society that he was the one who created the monster. I want to know if he reveals how he did it to anyone ever...or if he has always kept it a secret. I guess I'll just have to wait and see!

Theme

"From the tortures of my own heart, I turned to contemplate the deep and voiceless grief of my Elizabeth. This also was my doing! And my father's woe, and the desolation of that late so smiling home--all was the work of my thrice-accursed hands!" (pg 85)

Throughout the first half of the novel, a consistent theme of "health" can be recognized. Towards the beginning of the book, we witness the death of Victor's mother, and the grief it played on the family. Because his mother died due to the care of Elizabeth, we see her demonstrate kind heartedness and sacrificial desire to take care of her family. Then, towards the middle of the book, Frankenstein receives letters from both Elizabeth and his father explaining the grief the family is enduring. His father tells Frankenstein that it would help to relieve their grief if he returned home. The irony of the situation, though, is that Frankenstein is the cause of their bad health and ill feelings. Because the monster that Victor created killed William, Frankenstein's younger brother and the reasoning for the family's grief, Frankenstein is the source and initial cause. Also, he is the reason that Justine is killed in the end, also. If Frankenstein had not created a monster, then William would still be alive and in good health, and Justine would have never been accused of murder.

Foil characters

"Believe me, Frankenstein, I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity; but am I not alone, miserably alone? You, my creator, abhor me; what hope can I gather from your fellow creature, who owe me nothing? They spurn and hate me. The desert mountains and dreary glaciers are my refuge..." (pg 96)

Although it may be too early in the novel to tell, I believe that Frankenstein and his monsters are foil characters. In my opinion, the monster is more logical and humane than Frankenstein, who automatically characterizes his creation as evil and disastrous. So far, after his creation, Frankenstein seems to have become less human and more like a monster. However, his creation seems to becoming more human. The monster talks in an eloquent manner which emphasizes his characteristics as a human being. On the other hand, Frankenstein shuts the monster out and refuses to accept any explanation he provides to justify his behavior. Also, Frankenstein judged his creation before talking to him and getting to know him; he automatically characterized him as destructive and scary. The monster only wants a chance, but is willing to walk away when Frankenstein asks him to leave. "Thus I relieve thee, my creator." (pg 97) Frankenstein demonstrates hatred while Frankenstein demonstrates compassion.

Framestory

"Prepare to hear of occurences which are usually deemed marvelous. We were among the tamer scenes of nature I might fear to encounter your unbelief, perhaps your ridicule; but many things will appear possible in these wild and mysterious regions which would provoke the laughter of those acquainted with the ever-varied power of nature..." (pg 28)

In the commencement of the novel, we witness the letters that Walton writes to his sister. He explains his desire to acquire information from a man that they found and that boarded their ship. When the letters cease, and chapter one begins, the audience realizes that majority of the book consists of Victor Frankenstein, the dreary man on the ship, telling his story to Walton. The use of the frame story allows the author, Mary Shelley, to naturally use first person. The story being told is Victor Frankenstein directly speaking to the audience, or Walton. By doing this, the speaker and the author form a more intimate relationship with the audience, and allows the story to feel more personal. Also, the frame story forebodes the ending, which plants a seed of curiosity in the mind of the reader. That way, the reader is searching for the process that led Victor Frankenstein to chasing his monster on a dog sled.

The Resolution

"It was only a smile, nothing more. It didn't make everything all right. It didn't make anything all right. Only a smile. A tiny thing. A leaf in the woods, shaking in the wake of a startled bird's flight...but I'll take it. With open arms. Because when spring comes, it melts the snow one flake at a time, and maybe I just witnessed the first flake melting" (pg 371).


In my opinion, the conclusion of the novel was perfect considering the circumstances that had occurred previously in the novel. The novel was a roller coaster ride of tragedy and mourning, and to make the ending either happy or disastrous would leave the novel feeling unbalanced. Seeing Amir change his ways, and become a selfless person who put Sohrab's life before his own, displayed the importance of the novel: dedication and forgiveness. Although there was heartbreak and betrayal, amends were made in the end. Comparing the ice Sohrab had possessed in his personality since his attempted suicide to the snow of the first winter, shows the potential change that may become of Sohrab. It leaves the audience with a positive outlook, and hope for Sohrab to have a better life in San Francisco. Not only does Amir gain a child, but he gains the child of a half-brother whose story had haunted him his entire life. Now, both Sohrab and Amir can live at peace with themselves, and they can forget their tragic pasts. The story provides hope.

Betrayal

"I'm thirty-eight years old and I've just fund out my whole life is one big f*cking lie! What can you possibly say to make things better? Nothing. Not a goddamn thing! And with that, I stormed out of the apartment" (pg 223).


Although I could never imagine myself in Amir's shoes during this point in the novel, I understand his anger towards Rahim Khan. Amir has been harboring this guilt for not being able to please Baba, and for hurting Hassan the way he had, for twenty years. Then, to find out that his servant was his brother, and Baba had lied to him throughout the entirety of his life, would push that anger over the edge. Now, not only did Amir have to make amends with a servant in order to be at peace with himself, but he had to makes amends with his half-brother, too. If I were Amir, I would go back and reconsider all of the decisions I would have made differently had I been aware of my relationship with Hassan. Yes, Amir was aware that he had betrayed but a friend, but now he had to come to terms with betraying his blood...his family. In my opinion, this is what drives Amir to make things right with Hassan: for Baba and himself to forgive themselves and make peace with one another. Although Baba had died years prior to Amir's discovery, Baba's name would still be honorable if Amir made up for his mistreatment by raising Sohrab, Hassan's son.

Simile

"They were slaughter sheep's eyes. They even had the mascara--I remembered how, on the day of Eid of qorban, the mullah in our backyard used to apply mascara to the eyes of the sheep and feed it a cube of sugar before slicing it's throat. I thought I saw pleading in Sohrab's eyes" (pg 285). One particular literary technique that Khaled Hosseini uses to describe memories vividly, is the use of metaphors and similes. In this chapter of the novel, Amir refers to the look in Sohrab's eyes to resemble a sheep that is being prepared to be sacrificed. When I read this line, Sohrab portrayed an innocent and naive animal who only wanted to be free. The comparison that Amir makes between the two is what makes the line so powerful, and allows the audience to feel the empathy that Amir felt when seeing Sohrab in such a terrible position. Also, the story is a sequence of memories. Therefore, the comparison between the sheep and Sohrab is a result of Amir's memory. That is exactly how Amir felt about Sohrab in that moment. Withuot the use of similes, the audience would have a more difficult time imagining the look in Sohrab's eyes. The image Amir is trying to portray would not be so realistic.

Motif

"She was pointing to the sky. A half-dozen kites were flying high, speckles of bright yellow, red, and green against the gray sky" (pg 366). In The Kite Runner, the influence of kites plays a large role in the novel. In the begining of the book, Amir describes flying kites as an extra-cirricular activity that becomes a lifestyle for children in the winter. As he grows older, however, kite flying is no longer seen as an important aspect of his life. In my opinion, kite flying, or kites in general, are a motif of the novel that represent dedication. According to Amir, they practiced kite flying every day as children in order to perfect the sport, wanting to become the best to impress Baba. After Hassan was raped, though, due to the dedication he had to Amir, neither of the children flew kites any longer. In the conclusion of the novel, kites make their final appearance because Amir forgave himself and dedicated his own life to Sohrab. Now, he wanted to make Sohrab happy and was dedicated to raising him in a healthy environment; therefore, kite flying is not only a motif of the novel, but it is also represents the theme: dedication.

Dynamic Character

"And one more thing, General Sahib...You will never again refer to him as 'Hazara boy' in my presence. He has a name and it's Sohrab" (pg 361). Throughout the first half of the novel, Amir is constantly concerned with the opinion of his father. He consistently attempts to win the affection of Baba and make his father proud of his own accomplishments. He refers to Hassan as his servant, when in fact he is his best friend and his half-brother. Not only can he not defend himself, but he allows Hassan to be injured for the sake of his own pride. Towards the middle of the novel, however, the audience can detect a change in Amir's character when Amir begins to redeem himself through his search for Sohrab. By realizing that the right thing to do is fight for one's beliefs, Amir is a dynamic character. He makes the change from selfish to selfless and devotes nearly seven months to helping Sohrab. He treats Sohrab as his own son, even though he is a Hazara.

Father-son relationship

"Nothing was free in this world. maybe Hassan was the price I had to pay, the lamb I had to slay, to win Baba. Was it a fair price? The answer floated to my conscious mind before I could thwart it: He was just a Hazara wasn't he?" (pg 76)

I know that prior to this blog, I discussed my frustration with Amir. But one has to wonder why Amir's thought process was so selfish when faced with rough situations. He mentions that he wants to do well to impress his father, but I cannot decide whether or not that is an excuse to betray such a loyal friend. If Baba had not been so distant to Amir while raising him, I believe that Amir would try to behave as Baba. He would want to be the loyal, honest, confident man that Baba had been as a father to him. However, the fact that Babe only showed and told of his disappointment in his son and his behavior, Amir did not feel adequate enough for his father's love and appreciation. Because of the lack of affection, Amir had to stoop so low as to risk the well-being of a best friend, a brother. It is so hard to make up my mind on how I feel towards Amir and Baba. They both have their stronger qualities that I admire; however, both of them lack good judgment at times throughout the novel.

Diversity of Characters

"Come. There is a way to be good again, Rahim Khan had said on the phone just before hanging up. Said it in passing, almost as an afterthought....A way to be good again" (pg 192).

This line made me absolutely stoked for what is to come!! I am praying that Hassan comes back into the story soon because so far, he has been my favorite character (predictable, I know). I am sure that people have been complaining about Amir's selfishness, and I am no different. Amir's casual self-righteousness bothered me so much within the first ten chapters. No matter the circumstance, he was always putting himself before others, and majority of the time he knew that what he was doing was wrong. However, the diversity of the characters and their personalities are what make this story so intriguing and tragic. If Hassan had not been this amazing child, who always put his friend before himself, then the audience would not feel such pain and anger when he endured the hurt from rape. Of course, there would be sympathy no matter what, but due to Hassan's caring and giving soul, the hurt was exaggerated nonetheless. If Amir redeems himself in the end of this novel, then I will be more than satisfied. I cannot tell, but this novel has an eerie feeling and I am afraid of an anything-but-happy ending...

Style/Foreshadowing

"Like the times Kaka Homayoun's projector got stuck on the same slide, the same image kept flashing in my mind over and over: Hassan, his head downcast, serving drinks to Assef and Wali. Maybe it would be for the best. Lessen his suffering. And mine too. Either way, this much had become clear: One of us had to go" (pg 102).

One thing that I have noticed throughout each chapter of the book is the style that Hosseini uses to write the novel. Each chapter contains some sort of foreshadowing, whether it be menial or significant, there always seems to be a hint as to what the audience can expect the characters to do next. For example, Amir clearly admits that either he or Hassan has to leave. Because of this foreshadowing, the audience can easily guess that Hassan will have to be the one to leave, considering he lives in Amir and Baba's house. The way he goes about goes about getting rid of Hassan is the part that leaves the audience reading for more information. The use of foreshadowing is one of the reasons I have enjoyed reading this book so much. It is so hard to put down because I always know something is coming up that I cannot miss! The unknown makes the story intriguing and suspenseful.

Metaphor

"...Baba had wrestled bears his whole life. Losing his young wife. Raising a son by himself. Leaving his beloved homeland, his watan. Poverty. Indignity. In the end, a bear had come that he couldn't beat. But even then, he had lost on his own terms" (pg 174).

The narrator, Amir, frequently provides the audience with metaphors to draw comparisons between people and other figures. At times, he even makes references to Afghanistan as a person itself. One of the metaphors that really stuck out to me was the comparison between "bears" and the difficulties that Baba has faced throughout life. First, Amir refers to his father losing his wife, which he often felt was his fault because of the way Baba treated him. The second metaphor was comparing the beast to raising Amir by himself. Although towards the middle of the novel their relationships has seemed to improve, the relationship between Amir and Baba was shaky towards the beginning of the novel. Their relationship has progressed, and they act more like friends toward the middle of the novel before Baba's death. Then, Amir refers to the bear being poverty and indignity. The move from their rich and easy life to a life of nearly nothing had to be difficult for Baba, who is used to having everything that he needs in a country he loves. However, Baba's strength allowed him to overcome those difficult times until the new "bear" arrived: cancer. According to Amir, this was the only beast that Baba could not defeat.

Direct Characterization

"I can still see his tiny, low-set ears and that pointed stub of a chin, a meaty appendage that look like it was added as a mere afterthought. And the cleft lip, just left of midline, where the Chinese doll maker's instrument may have slipped, or perhaps he had grown tired and careless" (pg 3).


Throughout the first several chapters of The Kite Runner, the narrator, Amir, describes Hassan's outward appearance and physical stature by using direct characterization. Due to Hassan's ancestry (Hazara), he looks a person of Asian descent rather than Afghan, which is used as a sign of inferiority in the eyes of the Afghan men and women. Although often seen as a servant, and a person not worthy of recognition, Hassan is described to always have a smile on his face. Because the audience is provided with the physical deficiencies of Hassan, we understand how is mental attitude is so superior. By standing up for Amir against bullies, and attempting to maintain a friendship between Amir and himself after the incident, Hassan is a strong and superior individual. He is loyal to his family and his friends, and does not give into stereotypes. Therefore, even though Hassan possesses a cleft lip, he is displayed as a stronger individual than his master and friend, Amir. Amir, with this education and his money, does not have the confidence and morality to ward off bullies and do the right thing.

I love Ruth!

In the commencement of the play, one thing that really caught my attention was the description of Ruth. The playwright describes Ruth as a beautiful woman who looks older than her age due to stress and worry. I will admit that in the beginning of the play, I found Ruth to be annoying and I thought that she treated her husband as though he was not capable of achieving his goals; however, as the play continued I grew more fond of Ruth's character. When most people read this play, I am willing to bet that they learn to love Mama and appreciate Beneatha's willingness to stand up for her beliefs and independence, but I became attached to Ruth's sense of compassion. Although she was struggling herself, she always put Mama and Walter first. Walter treats her with disrespect at times, but she always offers herself to him fully. I believe that Ruth is an exemplary woman, and I admire her patience when dealing with such hardships. Often times I think stay-at-home mothers do not receive the gratitude that they should for all of their hard work. If anything, I learned to appreciate Ruth throughout this play, and learned to respect a woman who cares for her family. Yes, I am sort of a feminist.

Theme: Dream Deferred

To me, the main theme of the play is listed in one of the first pages, and lies within a poem: a dream deferred. The entire play is based around the dreams of the characters and how they pursue them, or if they come true. Although at times there dreams seem too distant to grasp, each believes that they are capable of achieving it. Just like in real life, there are obstacles that the characters have to overcome, especially with money struggles, but they never completely eliminate the possibility. For example, Walter tells his son, Travis, that one day he will be able to hand over Travis' future and allow him the possibility to choose any at which he could receive an education. Due to their financial problems at the time, the dream seemed unrealistic and impossible. However, Walter kept persistent and towards the end of the play he realized that he could get through the rough times and keep going. Also, in the last scene of the play, Mama goes over to her plant and grabs it before leaving their apartment for the last time. Throughout the play, she describes this plant as herself. In my opinion, the plant was her dream for her family to grow and prosper with a little care and sunlight. By grabbing the plant and taking it with her at the end, Mama believed that there was still a possibility of her dream coming true.

Realistic Conventions

In my opinion, "A Raisin in the Sun" employs realistic conventions, especially compared to "The Glass Menagerie." For example, the civil rights movement and struggles with racism play a large role in the lives of the Younger family. Although they are proud and believe they are equal, there are times when the Younger family believes the white people are superior to them. In the beginning of the play, Walter expresses his anger towards Ruth when exclaiming that the women of his race do nothing but bring their men down. When making this comment, I inferred that Walter thought black women were inferior to the white women; they possess negative attitudes and do not dream. Another realistic aspect of the play is the relationship between the family members. It is apparent that there is a bit of stubbornness in the characters, especially in Walter and Beneatha; however, they also care about one another and show their affection and appreciation towards one another when times are rough. One last realistic convention of the play is their manufacturing of dreams. Every main character in the play expresses a desire they wish to possess, similar to real life.

Count your Blessings

In the beginning of the play, the Glass Menagerie seemed to have no real purpose or story line; however, the fifth scene displayed some sort of climax. The scene where Laura began to come out of her shell, and talk to Jim the way she desired to, caught my attention the most. In particular, there was a quote that I believed related to my own life. In the fifth scene, Jim says, "That's what you have to remember! And everybody has problems, not just you, but practically everybody has got some problems." (pg 1277) I attended the Christian Awakening Retreat last week, and I discovered that I need to look at my own life sometimes and remember that there are people who are suffering a great deal more than I am. Now, I understand that I should be thankful for the blessings I have in my own life, and I should remember to treat with others with respect because they may have it a lot worse than I do. I understand that Laura is shy and suffers from a disability. However, she could have it a lot worse than a leg brace, and that is what Jim is trying to make apparent to her.

Protagonist/Antagonist

In my opinion, I would say that Amanda is the protagonist in the story. It was difficult to decipher whether or not which role she played; however, I believe that she was looking out for the good of her entire family rather than the good of herself. Amanda seems to only want the best for her son and daughter, which is why she goes out of her way to make sure they are making good decisions and keeping good goals. Although she is EXTREMELY annoying and nagging at times, I think she does have good intentions. Tom, on the other hand, I believe to be the antagonist. I understand his reasoning behind his leaving his family, but it was a selfish decision. He took great care of his family financially, but only really cared about himself and getting out of the house. Amanda and Tom fought all of the time, also making them foil characters. Amanda was trying to be sensible and responsible, while Tom was dreaming and making selfish choices.

Non-realistic vs Realistic

The Glass Menagerie displays both non-realistic and realistic characteristics throughout the entirety of the play. In all five of the scenes, music plays in correspondence with the characters and their actions. For example, the "Glass Menagerie" plays whenever there is a scene demonstrating Laura and Amanda's relationship. Another non-realistic aspect of the play is Tom playing both as a character and a narrator. He simply walks into the scene after he narrates what will be taking place. Finally, the father's photograph on the wall lights up after Tom explains how his father "escaped his coffin without removing a nail. " There are also realistic aspects to the play. For example, Amanda is worried about her children's futures, especially Laura's future. The fights between the family members display realistic qualities of a family in a modern world. Also, the conversation and dialogue between the family members is also realistic; they talk to each other in a sensible manner.

Woo Hoo Shakespeare

Othello is hands down the best literary work we have learned and studied all year long. At first, I was intimidated because of the language it is spoken in; however, it turned out to work in my favor. Although reading Shakespeare can be difficult at times, it is never hard to understand. The basic story line is always easily comprehended, and the characters mostly have raw, basic emotion. There is no extremely complicated analysis required because the characters act on how they feel. Sure, the villain always has their evil schemes in which they have every aspect planned out, but for the most part, the concept of the plot can be easily understood. I am glad we are reading another Shakespearean play! It is a great alternative to poems that go straight through my head.

Tragic Romance??

Othello is a Shakespearean tragedy. Shock to all, I know. However, if one was not aware of the classification of the play, their hopes will be more optimistic than those who are informed. In the play, there is no murder or intense action until the fifth act; therefore, one may hope that things will turn around in favor of Desdemona, Othello, and Cassio. There is no hope for them. Even though I was aware of the classification of the play, I still thought that MAYBE POSSIBLY Othello will discover the truth before anything too severe takes place. I really love and appreciate a good romance, but I do not know how if I can really classify this as a romantic play. Yes, the last scene is romantic because Othello takes his life because he did something so terrible to the woman he loved. However, most of the play consisted of hatred, revenge, and jealousy. In order for me to say that the play was romantic, there needs to be some more affection show.

Unrealistic aspects

Compared to modern theatrical productions, Othello seems to employ unrealistic conventions to me. The basic themes of the play are realistic, and common nonetheless. For example, jealousy is often used as a theme to a literary work, but displaying it the way that Shakespeare had is not so common. For example, Othello never questions Cassio about the suggested affair between him and Desdemona. If this had a been a realistic play, there would be some sort of confrontation between the two men. Also, instead of directly going to Desdemona to ask her about the affair, he avoids seeing her or bringing up the situation. It just seems odd to me that asking Desdemona and Cassio would not be Othello's first reaction to Iago's story. The relationship between Othello and Desdemona is also a tad unrealistic. If she is his most prized possession, then shouldn't Othello hold her word over everyone else's word? The way that Othello handles the news is unrealistic, also. His first instinct is to kill the both of them, but why not leave Desdemona? If it's because he loves her so much that he cannot deal with it, then YES it is romantic, but it just does not seem realistic. Only insane people kill out of anger or jealousy. Othello has no self control.

Feelings towards the characters

The interesting concept about this play is that racist people, or people who are convinced by Iago's lies, could easily take Iago's side. If what Iago is saying about Othello sleeping with his wife is valid, then I could see where Iago is coming from as well; however, I do not believe that it's true. Automatically, I judged Iago to be a bad guy or the villain, and I believed Roderigo to be naive. In fact, I feel awful for Roderigo because he is being dragged into something that will never allow him to benefit. I mean, obviously Barbantino would not approve of his love for Desdemona. "In honest plainness thou has heard me say my daughter is not for thee." (I.i.114-115) And I think Desdemona made it pretty clear she did not want him either. The really odd thing is, I do not necessarily feel sympathy towards Desdemona. I am not sure why, but although she is the victim in the situation, I do not feel like she deserves pity...yet. I do feel sorry for Othello, because he seems like a good man, and he seems to be truly trustworthy and in love with Desdemona. Let's just hope these rumors about him sleeping with Emilia are not true.

Themes and whatnot

In the first three acts, there is one theme that throws itself at the audience: jealousy. You would have to be blind not to pick up on it. In the first scene of the first act, Iago begins to explain his reason for despising Cassio and his reason for betraying Othello: jealousy. Because of Iago's jealousy for Cassio and his position as lieutenant, there is a plot for the rest of the play. It shows how far people will go when they envy another person. If Iago was not jealous of Cassio, then he would not betray Othello. Also, another theme is present throughout the first three acts: prejudgment based on appearance. In act one, Barbantino, Iago, and Roderigo make several remarks toward Othello and the color of his skin. "...an old black ram is tupping your white ewe." (I.i.87-88) By doing this, the men make Othello seem inferior when in fact he is the commander-in-chief of Venice and a highly respected man. If the man had been white, Barbantino would adore Othello and surely approve his marriage to Desdemona. The fact that there is racial discrimination in the play provides more reason to hate Iago and Barbantino's characters.

Protagonist/Antagonist

Throughout Othello, there are several examples that display Iago as the antagonist of the story. For example, in II.iii.300-326, Iago speaks to himself and announces how his plan to destroy Cassio is going accordingly. Iago puts on a happy face, and pretends to be on Othello and Cassio's side; however, Iago is plotting to bring them both down. The protagonist of the story (so far) is Cassio. It is a hard pick between Cassio and Othello, but in all reality, Iago is angry because he believes he deserves Cassio's position as lieutenant; therefore, there is more jealousy between Cassio and Iago. The different characteristics between the two can be seen in II.i.165-166 when Cassio treats the women with respect, but Iago is rude and disrespectful. "He speaks home, madam. You may relish him more in the soldier than in the scholar." Not only do they play the protagonist/antagonist roles, but they are also foils. Without their contrasting personality traits it would be difficult to see the conflict between the two. Also, it makes it easier to take sides between the villain and the hero. By seeing an evil side to Iago, we can tell that his motives for his actions are selfish, and derive from jealousy.