What parallels can be drawn between the Pardoner's Prologue and his tale? How is this tale different from the other two that we have studied? Think in regards to the Pardoner's voice and how Chaucer's style changes.
The vices that the Pardoner is speaking of in his tale are ironically vices that he has committed. Throughout his tale, he is constantly shunning these vices, comparing them to “the very sepulcher of human judgement and articulation” (247) and stating that those who indulge in these vices will be “enemies of the cross of Christ” (246). The vices that the Pardoner spoke of in his tale were indulgence, gluttony, vulgarity, debauchery, and avarice. Some specific examples from his tale were drinking, gambling, and swearing. The Pardoner cursed all of these vices, but in his prologue he is engaging in some of these acts: “Now as I’ve drunk a draught of corn-ripe ale” (244).
The Pardoner’s tale differs from the Knight’s tale and the Miller’s tale in various ways. For example, the Knight’s and Miller’s tale are revolved around love, while the Pardoner’s tale is revolved around vices. With that being said, the Knight’s and Miller’s tale were suspenseful and exciting to read. The Pardoner’s tale lacked this excitement because there were no real surprises, everything that happened could have been predicted.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Essential Question 4
Choice 2: Where do we see seduction and lust start to destroy Gawain, our young hero? What is the author trying to tell us?
During the Old English era, the color green signified something very different from the modern era. Now, it signifies money, greed, and envy, while then it signified passion and seduction.
It is no surprise that the person who Gawain is going to be fighting is the Green Knight. The Green Knight’s green attire is meant to symbolize seduction and temptation. When first being introduced to the Green Knight, seduction was not a factor. It was not a factor until Gawain found the castle that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. Gawain was well received in this castle through clothes, food, and the host’s wife: “sweet pipes beguile their cares, and the trumpet of martial tone; each tends his affairs and those two tend their own” (1016-1019). Considering the fact that Gawain and the host made a treaty together, the last thing the host wants is for Gawain to be having an affair with his wife.
Gawain’s charm can be seen as his downfall. This secret affair can possibly cost him the fight or more importantly, his life.
During the Old English era, the color green signified something very different from the modern era. Now, it signifies money, greed, and envy, while then it signified passion and seduction.
It is no surprise that the person who Gawain is going to be fighting is the Green Knight. The Green Knight’s green attire is meant to symbolize seduction and temptation. When first being introduced to the Green Knight, seduction was not a factor. It was not a factor until Gawain found the castle that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. Gawain was well received in this castle through clothes, food, and the host’s wife: “sweet pipes beguile their cares, and the trumpet of martial tone; each tends his affairs and those two tend their own” (1016-1019). Considering the fact that Gawain and the host made a treaty together, the last thing the host wants is for Gawain to be having an affair with his wife.
Gawain’s charm can be seen as his downfall. This secret affair can possibly cost him the fight or more importantly, his life.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Women's Code to Relationship
1. Don’t appear as too eager. Men are sometimes intimidated by how forward a woman can seem. Play hard to get. It makes the chase much more interesting for the man.
2. Don’t come off as “too independent”. Once again, this intimidates most men. When a woman tries to portray herself as too independent it will most likely turn them off. Remember, just because you don’t want to come off as too independent, don’t come off as to dependent either.
3. Keep it classy. Manners go a long way. Say “please” and “thank you” when needed. No one likes a rude date. Make sure you are dressed your best. The only thing that is worse than a rude date is a rude date that can’t dress.
4. Don’t dumb yourself down. Do not laugh at every stupid joke that he says and don’t act as if you have no opinions. Conversations that are one-sided are very boring. Disagree with him. Just because you disagree doesn’t mean that you have to fight about it either, be mature and have an intellectual debate about your differing opinions.
5. Don’t mention love. Who would have ever thought that one word with four letters could scare men so quickly? The mere thought of love frightens all men. Once the word “love” is thrown out into the conversation, they think that the next step is meeting each other’s parents and moving in together. Keep the conversation as casual as possible.
6. Be yourself. Don’t try too hard to impress a man because you want your man to like you for who you are, not for who you appear to be.
7. Don’t be too clingy. No one likes someone who is constantly calling, texting, and leaving voicemails. Give your man some space. Let him breathe. Allow there to be a day where you don’t see him. I assure you that you will be much happier to see him after not spending the day with him.
8. Be supportive. If he has a basketball game, be there for support. There is nothing that can make a man happier besides seeing his girl in the stands smiling and cheering for him.
9. Don’t force it. He does not want to go to the hair salon, nail salon, or the spa with you. He also doesn’t want to sit there and listen to the gossip you heard while at the grocery store. Realize that there are some things that interest him more. And usually what interests you, isn’t what interests him.
10. COOK! The way to any man’s heart is definitely food. Of course going out to a restaurant for dinner is always, but there’s nothing better than a home cooked meal.
2. Don’t come off as “too independent”. Once again, this intimidates most men. When a woman tries to portray herself as too independent it will most likely turn them off. Remember, just because you don’t want to come off as too independent, don’t come off as to dependent either.
3. Keep it classy. Manners go a long way. Say “please” and “thank you” when needed. No one likes a rude date. Make sure you are dressed your best. The only thing that is worse than a rude date is a rude date that can’t dress.
4. Don’t dumb yourself down. Do not laugh at every stupid joke that he says and don’t act as if you have no opinions. Conversations that are one-sided are very boring. Disagree with him. Just because you disagree doesn’t mean that you have to fight about it either, be mature and have an intellectual debate about your differing opinions.
5. Don’t mention love. Who would have ever thought that one word with four letters could scare men so quickly? The mere thought of love frightens all men. Once the word “love” is thrown out into the conversation, they think that the next step is meeting each other’s parents and moving in together. Keep the conversation as casual as possible.
6. Be yourself. Don’t try too hard to impress a man because you want your man to like you for who you are, not for who you appear to be.
7. Don’t be too clingy. No one likes someone who is constantly calling, texting, and leaving voicemails. Give your man some space. Let him breathe. Allow there to be a day where you don’t see him. I assure you that you will be much happier to see him after not spending the day with him.
8. Be supportive. If he has a basketball game, be there for support. There is nothing that can make a man happier besides seeing his girl in the stands smiling and cheering for him.
9. Don’t force it. He does not want to go to the hair salon, nail salon, or the spa with you. He also doesn’t want to sit there and listen to the gossip you heard while at the grocery store. Realize that there are some things that interest him more. And usually what interests you, isn’t what interests him.
10. COOK! The way to any man’s heart is definitely food. Of course going out to a restaurant for dinner is always, but there’s nothing better than a home cooked meal.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Essential Question #2
Discuss the role of women in Beowulf. How do Wealhtheow and Grendel’s mother compare/ contrast?
When first looking at Beowulf, it may seem as if the women do not play an active role in the poem or in its plot development. For the short period of time that Wealhtheow and Grendel’s mother were seen throughout the poem, their appearances were very important.
When Wealhtheow first appeared in the poem, though her introduction was only about twenty lines long, she showed us that she lived the same lifestyle as her husband, Hrothgar. Hrothgar was more concerned about himself and luxury rather than the Danish people and Wealhtheow was “adorned with gold” (605) when first introduced to her. This shows us that she was more concerned with the luxurious things. On the other hand, Grendel’s mother didn’t want to live the same life as Grendel. Grendel’s mother “mourned her fate” (1248) and didn’t want to be murdering others as her son did. Although Grendel’s mother follows in her son’s footsteps by continuing to murder, the audience is aware of the fact that she is living a life that she would have preferred not to.
When first looking at Beowulf, it may seem as if the women do not play an active role in the poem or in its plot development. For the short period of time that Wealhtheow and Grendel’s mother were seen throughout the poem, their appearances were very important.
When Wealhtheow first appeared in the poem, though her introduction was only about twenty lines long, she showed us that she lived the same lifestyle as her husband, Hrothgar. Hrothgar was more concerned about himself and luxury rather than the Danish people and Wealhtheow was “adorned with gold” (605) when first introduced to her. This shows us that she was more concerned with the luxurious things. On the other hand, Grendel’s mother didn’t want to live the same life as Grendel. Grendel’s mother “mourned her fate” (1248) and didn’t want to be murdering others as her son did. Although Grendel’s mother follows in her son’s footsteps by continuing to murder, the audience is aware of the fact that she is living a life that she would have preferred not to.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
essential question #1
What are the social obligations of a hero?
A hero is expected to lead, whether through inspiring words or brave actions. Leadership is imperative in a hero. Heroes have the entire community lying on them, and if the hero doubts himself then the rest of the community will doubt him as well. Being a leader requires instilling hope in citizens and guiding everyone. As long as the hero is selfless in all his actions, then the community will suport his decisions and respect him as a person.
Is Beowulf aware of his deification process?
It apears as if Beowulf is well aware of his role of being a hero. When the audience is first introduced to Beowulf, they described him as having the reputation "for his great bravery" (195),and that "he was the strongest man alive, princely and powerful" (197-198). With a reputation as good as Beowulf's, it would be hard to believe that he has never heard these compliments about him. Also, it can be inferred that Beowulf knows that he is a hero by his willingness and eagerness to take on a difficult and challenging task without hesitation, such as going overseas to aid Hrothgar in defeating Grendel. His presence gives a heroic vine to Wulfgar, for Wulfgar only has good things to say about Beowulf to Hrothgar even though it was his first time meeting him: "do not give them no for answer. They, in their armor, seem altogether worthy of the highest esteem. I have no doubt of there leader's might" (364-367).
A hero is expected to lead, whether through inspiring words or brave actions. Leadership is imperative in a hero. Heroes have the entire community lying on them, and if the hero doubts himself then the rest of the community will doubt him as well. Being a leader requires instilling hope in citizens and guiding everyone. As long as the hero is selfless in all his actions, then the community will suport his decisions and respect him as a person.
Is Beowulf aware of his deification process?
It apears as if Beowulf is well aware of his role of being a hero. When the audience is first introduced to Beowulf, they described him as having the reputation "for his great bravery" (195),and that "he was the strongest man alive, princely and powerful" (197-198). With a reputation as good as Beowulf's, it would be hard to believe that he has never heard these compliments about him. Also, it can be inferred that Beowulf knows that he is a hero by his willingness and eagerness to take on a difficult and challenging task without hesitation, such as going overseas to aid Hrothgar in defeating Grendel. His presence gives a heroic vine to Wulfgar, for Wulfgar only has good things to say about Beowulf to Hrothgar even though it was his first time meeting him: "do not give them no for answer. They, in their armor, seem altogether worthy of the highest esteem. I have no doubt of there leader's might" (364-367).
Monday, April 27, 2009
Pride and Prejudice Essay
Dora Ocampo
AP English 11 –Mr. George
April 17, 2009
Pride and Prejudice Essay
There is more to marriage than just sharing a house, buying each other rings, and saying “I do”. You have to learn what the other is accustomed to and what they detest in order to make the marriage work. You have to accept the other for their flaws and adjust oneself for the other. None of this can be done without the main component, love. If there is no love in a marriage, it will be unsuccessful and most importantly unpleasant, like it would be with marriages of mercenary and prudence.
When looking for a partner in marriage, there are many things that one should consider. One of them could be if both partners will be able to provide for themselves financially. Another could be if both have schedules and personalities that are compatible with each other. Lastly, both members have to be positive that they are in love. These are all things that couples should reflect on, but should focus more on the last one. If a couple is truly in love then achieving happiness is inevitable. “Happiness is the key to success” (Schweitzer) and also the key to a successful marriage.
In the novel Pride and Prejudice written by Jane Austen, Austen explores three different types of marriages, mercenary being one of them. A mercenary marriage is one in which you marry solely to benefit yourself, whether it be in terms of money or some other form of reward. Wickham and Mrs. Bennet exemplify the true meaning of being mercenaries.
As if eloping with Mr. Darcy’s sister wasn’t enough, Mr. Wickham also eloped with Elizabeth’s sister, Lydia. The only difference is that Mr. Wickham had absolutely no intention of marrying Lydia when they decided to leave: “He [Wickham] confessed himself obliged to leave the regiment on account of some debts of honour which were very pressing” (Austen 313). In an attempt to win over Elizabeth and to save the reputation of the Bennet family, Mr. Darcy set Wickham up with a job, and also offered to pay off his debts. Wickham, though Mr. Darcy has already given him plenty, continued to ask for more, and even though his wishes were not met, he decided to accept Mr. Darcy’s proposal: “Wickham, of course, wanted more than he could get; but at length was reduced to be reasonable” (313). Love played no role in the marriage between Lydia and Wickham and it was only standing strong due to the agreement made with Mr. Darcy. Mrs. Bennet, along with Wickham, believed in mercenary marriages.
All five of the Bennet sisters were encouraged to marry into a rich family, and this encouragement came mainly from their mother, Mrs. Bennet. Mrs. Bennet’s conscience tells her that money is the key to happiness, and because of this she supports her daughters in marrying into wealth. This will not only lead her daughters into a good life, but also hers: “If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield […] and all the others equally well married, I shall have nothing to wish for” (11). Although Mr. Darcy was exceedingly wealthy, Mrs. Bennet was not fond of him because he carried himself very proudly. At the Pemberley ball, Mr. Darcy refused to dance with any of the females present because the ball was more of “a punishment than a pleasure” (55), meaning that none of the females were good enough. Mrs. Bennet found Darcy arrogant, conceited, and proud, at least until she found out that he proposed to Elizabeth: “Oh, my sweetest Lizzy! how rich and how great you will be!” (365). Mrs. Bennet was concerned solely about advantage, not happiness.
In the film Love and Basketball (2000), Shawnee Easton attempts to pursue love with the basketball star of Crenshaw High School, Quincy McCall. Quincy led his team in being number one with his scoring output and assists, and was also very wealthy because his father played for the Clippers. Because of this all of the females in his high school wanted to be with him. Dating the star athlete would have boosted up Shawnee’s level of popularity, hence why she was very forward in her approach to Quincy. Quincy’s mother, unlike Mrs. Bennet, warned Quincy of how girls were only using him: “Now I’m telling you that these girls are looking to get you caught, they see you and they see dollar signs” (Love and Basketball). None of these one night stands led to a successful relationship, thus mercenary marriages are unsuccessful.
As an intelligent theology teacher once taught, the definition of prudence is practical common sense. In prudential marriages, the couple is together because written on paper it seems perfect, although they may have different personalities. Mr. Collins proposes to two different women based on prudence.
After Elizabeth rejected Mr. Collins, and Mr. Collins claiming that she was playing hard to get like every other girl, he lists reasons as to why Elizabeth should marry him. In that list Mr. Collins mentions Elizabeth zero times. His proposal lacks passion, which is an example of how he really was not interested in the marriage with Elizabeth in the first place. He was proposing simply because it seemed right. Mr. Collins’ prudent motives are demonstrated when a few days later he proposes to Charlotte. Charlotte accepts his proposal simply because she too has the same motives as Mr. Collins.
“Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance” (Austen 24). Though said with a comical pretense, the quote above is something that Charlotte definitely means and stands by. Happiness is something that Charlotte doesn’t think to be a priority in marriage and is content with having a marriage lacking happiness. This may come off as absurd, but Charlotte was more concentrated on her future and how everything would appear. Also, Charlotte’s main goal was to get married, and she was willing to get what she wanted by any means necessary: “Without thinking highly either of men or of matrimony, marriage had always been her object: it was the only honourable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune” (122). Charlotte and Mr. Collins were clearly meant to be together.
After getting married, Mr. Collins desperately tries to make Elizabeth feel bad about her decision of rejecting him. He wants her to feel wounded by the fact that Charlotte is married to Mr. Collins. Both Charlotte and Mr. Collins are aware of why they are married and respect that. They give each other plenty of space and are never harassing each other. Their marriage is legal, but there is absolutely no emotional attachment.
Monica Wright in Love and Basketball gets paired up with a college student as a date for her Spring Dance by her sister, Lena Wright. Lena convinces her college friend to go out with Monica as a way to boost up her confidence and so that Monica can show off her cute date, Jason. Jason turned heads at the Spring Dance because he was attractive and because anyone who hung out with someone in college was perceived as cool. Though Monica and Jason looked cute together, they didn’t work out as a couple. Monica was looking for something deeper than just good looks, and she was incapable of finding something deeper in Jason. Prudence was incapable of producing happiness for Monica; hence prudence is the wrong motive to have when looking for a successful matrimony. Just because it’s supposed to make sense, doesn’t mean that it’s going to.
“Love conquers all things; let us too surrender to Love” (Virgil). Love is the omnipotent factor in a successful and happy marriage. Although love contains many hardships and obstacles, in the end it prevails over all other motives. Both Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy underwent difficult situations in order to have the woman that they love.
Mr. Bingley was separated from Jane by Mr. Darcy because Darcy was afraid that Bingley was more attached to Jane than Jane was to Bingley. This separation of Jane and Bingley brought happiness to Caroline, Bingley’s sister. But once Jane and Bingley got married, Caroline was disappointed in her brother. This was something that Bingley willingly endured for the love of Jane. Also, by marrying Jane, Mr. Bingley back peddled from where he was economically. What makes the marriage between Jane and Bingley so sweet, is the fact that Bingley had to make sacrifices to get the woman who he loves.
Out of Bingley and Darcy, Mr. Darcy gave up the most. Along with Bingley, Darcy disappointed his only remaining aunt and also dropped in class, though Darcy’s drop was significantly more than Bingley’s. Darcy also had to become brothers with Wickham, the man who deceived him. This says a lot about Darcy’s humble character and about his love for Elizabeth. As stated previously, Darcy paid off Wickham’s debts for the love of Elizabeth. In order to do this, Darcy put his pride aside and focused on what was more important, Elizabeth’s love: “Don’t lose someone you love though over your pride. Stick with your entrée and get over your side” (Fabolous). Darcy proves to Elizabeth how much she means to him through all the sacrifices that he made.
In Love and Basketball Monica and Quincy fall in love in high school, and continued their love in college. Due to some circumstances, they broke up while in college. Quincy went off to the NBA while Monica went overseas. During a basketball game with the LA Lakers, Quincy tore his ACL. Monica returns and gives Quincy a surprise visit with flowers. While at the hospital, Monica finds out that Quincy is engaged to stuartist. Her heart aches in pain, for she is still in love with Quincy and alludes to that when she says, “It's a trip, you know? When you're a kid, you-you see the life you want, and it never crosses your mind that it's not gonna [sic] turn out that way” (Love and Basketball). At the end of the movie, Monica confesses her love to Quincy and decides to play a game of one-on-one for his heart. He was completely against this game, but decided to play anyways. She lost the game, but still won Quincy’s heart.
With the outcome of both Pride and Prejudice and Love and Basketball, the message that is received is that love triumphs over all. In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen makes Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy the happiest couple in the book. In Love and Basketball, director Gina Prince-Bythewood made it so that although Monica lost the game to win Quincy’s heart, Quincy’s love for Monica made him able to look past the fact that he was engaged to another woman and that initially he was against the entire game.
“All is fair in love and basketball” (Love and Basketball).
Work Cited
Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. New York, New York. Barnes & Noble Books. 2004.
Fabolous feat. T. Pain. Baby Don’t Go. From Nothin’ to Somethin’. August 2007.
Happiness Quotes. http://www.wisdomquotes.com/cat_happiness.html. 04/16/09.
Prince-Bythewood, Gina. Love and Basketball. 2000.
The Quotations Page. http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/24334.html. 04/16/09
AP English 11 –Mr. George
April 17, 2009
Pride and Prejudice Essay
There is more to marriage than just sharing a house, buying each other rings, and saying “I do”. You have to learn what the other is accustomed to and what they detest in order to make the marriage work. You have to accept the other for their flaws and adjust oneself for the other. None of this can be done without the main component, love. If there is no love in a marriage, it will be unsuccessful and most importantly unpleasant, like it would be with marriages of mercenary and prudence.
When looking for a partner in marriage, there are many things that one should consider. One of them could be if both partners will be able to provide for themselves financially. Another could be if both have schedules and personalities that are compatible with each other. Lastly, both members have to be positive that they are in love. These are all things that couples should reflect on, but should focus more on the last one. If a couple is truly in love then achieving happiness is inevitable. “Happiness is the key to success” (Schweitzer) and also the key to a successful marriage.
In the novel Pride and Prejudice written by Jane Austen, Austen explores three different types of marriages, mercenary being one of them. A mercenary marriage is one in which you marry solely to benefit yourself, whether it be in terms of money or some other form of reward. Wickham and Mrs. Bennet exemplify the true meaning of being mercenaries.
As if eloping with Mr. Darcy’s sister wasn’t enough, Mr. Wickham also eloped with Elizabeth’s sister, Lydia. The only difference is that Mr. Wickham had absolutely no intention of marrying Lydia when they decided to leave: “He [Wickham] confessed himself obliged to leave the regiment on account of some debts of honour which were very pressing” (Austen 313). In an attempt to win over Elizabeth and to save the reputation of the Bennet family, Mr. Darcy set Wickham up with a job, and also offered to pay off his debts. Wickham, though Mr. Darcy has already given him plenty, continued to ask for more, and even though his wishes were not met, he decided to accept Mr. Darcy’s proposal: “Wickham, of course, wanted more than he could get; but at length was reduced to be reasonable” (313). Love played no role in the marriage between Lydia and Wickham and it was only standing strong due to the agreement made with Mr. Darcy. Mrs. Bennet, along with Wickham, believed in mercenary marriages.
All five of the Bennet sisters were encouraged to marry into a rich family, and this encouragement came mainly from their mother, Mrs. Bennet. Mrs. Bennet’s conscience tells her that money is the key to happiness, and because of this she supports her daughters in marrying into wealth. This will not only lead her daughters into a good life, but also hers: “If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield […] and all the others equally well married, I shall have nothing to wish for” (11). Although Mr. Darcy was exceedingly wealthy, Mrs. Bennet was not fond of him because he carried himself very proudly. At the Pemberley ball, Mr. Darcy refused to dance with any of the females present because the ball was more of “a punishment than a pleasure” (55), meaning that none of the females were good enough. Mrs. Bennet found Darcy arrogant, conceited, and proud, at least until she found out that he proposed to Elizabeth: “Oh, my sweetest Lizzy! how rich and how great you will be!” (365). Mrs. Bennet was concerned solely about advantage, not happiness.
In the film Love and Basketball (2000), Shawnee Easton attempts to pursue love with the basketball star of Crenshaw High School, Quincy McCall. Quincy led his team in being number one with his scoring output and assists, and was also very wealthy because his father played for the Clippers. Because of this all of the females in his high school wanted to be with him. Dating the star athlete would have boosted up Shawnee’s level of popularity, hence why she was very forward in her approach to Quincy. Quincy’s mother, unlike Mrs. Bennet, warned Quincy of how girls were only using him: “Now I’m telling you that these girls are looking to get you caught, they see you and they see dollar signs” (Love and Basketball). None of these one night stands led to a successful relationship, thus mercenary marriages are unsuccessful.
As an intelligent theology teacher once taught, the definition of prudence is practical common sense. In prudential marriages, the couple is together because written on paper it seems perfect, although they may have different personalities. Mr. Collins proposes to two different women based on prudence.
After Elizabeth rejected Mr. Collins, and Mr. Collins claiming that she was playing hard to get like every other girl, he lists reasons as to why Elizabeth should marry him. In that list Mr. Collins mentions Elizabeth zero times. His proposal lacks passion, which is an example of how he really was not interested in the marriage with Elizabeth in the first place. He was proposing simply because it seemed right. Mr. Collins’ prudent motives are demonstrated when a few days later he proposes to Charlotte. Charlotte accepts his proposal simply because she too has the same motives as Mr. Collins.
“Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance” (Austen 24). Though said with a comical pretense, the quote above is something that Charlotte definitely means and stands by. Happiness is something that Charlotte doesn’t think to be a priority in marriage and is content with having a marriage lacking happiness. This may come off as absurd, but Charlotte was more concentrated on her future and how everything would appear. Also, Charlotte’s main goal was to get married, and she was willing to get what she wanted by any means necessary: “Without thinking highly either of men or of matrimony, marriage had always been her object: it was the only honourable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune” (122). Charlotte and Mr. Collins were clearly meant to be together.
After getting married, Mr. Collins desperately tries to make Elizabeth feel bad about her decision of rejecting him. He wants her to feel wounded by the fact that Charlotte is married to Mr. Collins. Both Charlotte and Mr. Collins are aware of why they are married and respect that. They give each other plenty of space and are never harassing each other. Their marriage is legal, but there is absolutely no emotional attachment.
Monica Wright in Love and Basketball gets paired up with a college student as a date for her Spring Dance by her sister, Lena Wright. Lena convinces her college friend to go out with Monica as a way to boost up her confidence and so that Monica can show off her cute date, Jason. Jason turned heads at the Spring Dance because he was attractive and because anyone who hung out with someone in college was perceived as cool. Though Monica and Jason looked cute together, they didn’t work out as a couple. Monica was looking for something deeper than just good looks, and she was incapable of finding something deeper in Jason. Prudence was incapable of producing happiness for Monica; hence prudence is the wrong motive to have when looking for a successful matrimony. Just because it’s supposed to make sense, doesn’t mean that it’s going to.
“Love conquers all things; let us too surrender to Love” (Virgil). Love is the omnipotent factor in a successful and happy marriage. Although love contains many hardships and obstacles, in the end it prevails over all other motives. Both Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy underwent difficult situations in order to have the woman that they love.
Mr. Bingley was separated from Jane by Mr. Darcy because Darcy was afraid that Bingley was more attached to Jane than Jane was to Bingley. This separation of Jane and Bingley brought happiness to Caroline, Bingley’s sister. But once Jane and Bingley got married, Caroline was disappointed in her brother. This was something that Bingley willingly endured for the love of Jane. Also, by marrying Jane, Mr. Bingley back peddled from where he was economically. What makes the marriage between Jane and Bingley so sweet, is the fact that Bingley had to make sacrifices to get the woman who he loves.
Out of Bingley and Darcy, Mr. Darcy gave up the most. Along with Bingley, Darcy disappointed his only remaining aunt and also dropped in class, though Darcy’s drop was significantly more than Bingley’s. Darcy also had to become brothers with Wickham, the man who deceived him. This says a lot about Darcy’s humble character and about his love for Elizabeth. As stated previously, Darcy paid off Wickham’s debts for the love of Elizabeth. In order to do this, Darcy put his pride aside and focused on what was more important, Elizabeth’s love: “Don’t lose someone you love though over your pride. Stick with your entrée and get over your side” (Fabolous). Darcy proves to Elizabeth how much she means to him through all the sacrifices that he made.
In Love and Basketball Monica and Quincy fall in love in high school, and continued their love in college. Due to some circumstances, they broke up while in college. Quincy went off to the NBA while Monica went overseas. During a basketball game with the LA Lakers, Quincy tore his ACL. Monica returns and gives Quincy a surprise visit with flowers. While at the hospital, Monica finds out that Quincy is engaged to stuartist. Her heart aches in pain, for she is still in love with Quincy and alludes to that when she says, “It's a trip, you know? When you're a kid, you-you see the life you want, and it never crosses your mind that it's not gonna [sic] turn out that way” (Love and Basketball). At the end of the movie, Monica confesses her love to Quincy and decides to play a game of one-on-one for his heart. He was completely against this game, but decided to play anyways. She lost the game, but still won Quincy’s heart.
With the outcome of both Pride and Prejudice and Love and Basketball, the message that is received is that love triumphs over all. In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen makes Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy the happiest couple in the book. In Love and Basketball, director Gina Prince-Bythewood made it so that although Monica lost the game to win Quincy’s heart, Quincy’s love for Monica made him able to look past the fact that he was engaged to another woman and that initially he was against the entire game.
“All is fair in love and basketball” (Love and Basketball).
Work Cited
Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. New York, New York. Barnes & Noble Books. 2004.
Fabolous feat. T. Pain. Baby Don’t Go. From Nothin’ to Somethin’. August 2007.
Happiness Quotes. http://www.wisdomquotes.com/cat_happiness.html. 04/16/09.
Prince-Bythewood, Gina. Love and Basketball. 2000.
The Quotations Page. http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/24334.html. 04/16/09
Monday, April 13, 2009
Mrs. Bennet
Dora Ocampo
AP English 11 –Mr. Darcy
April 14, 2009
Easter Homework Two
Deceitful and a gold-digger, throughout the entire novel Mrs. Bennet was inconsistent with how she felt towards others.
If you were a man of wealth and of high class, Mrs. Bennet would compliment you on everything. The most important element that Mrs. Bennet looked for was stature. She attempted to associate herself only with rich people, although she was poor, and also attempted to pair up her daughters with only rich men. If Mrs. Bennet lacks in anything, it’s on being genuine. Her harsh words and ill manners towards Mr. Darcy is an example of how much a stranger Mrs. Bennet is to being genuine. The primary reason for her behavior was because Mr. Darcy refused to dance with her daughters. After finding out that Mr. Darcy has proposed to Elizabeth, she soon began to praise Mr. Darcy, even though moments before she was talking ill of him.
Mrs. Bennet is a dummy. The ventriloquist tells her what to say, although she doesn’t mean any of it. Her life is controlled by a hand, and in Mrs. Bennet’s case the hand is the importance of class. Her motives are simply because she feels obligated. She will give you compliments and good wishes, but at the end of the day she is controlled by something else, and all her words and intensions are only in hopes of benefitting her in some way.
Mrs. Bennet is like Perez Hilton, constantly talking about the flaws of others, but too shallow to notice their own.
AP English 11 –Mr. Darcy
April 14, 2009
Easter Homework Two
Deceitful and a gold-digger, throughout the entire novel Mrs. Bennet was inconsistent with how she felt towards others.
If you were a man of wealth and of high class, Mrs. Bennet would compliment you on everything. The most important element that Mrs. Bennet looked for was stature. She attempted to associate herself only with rich people, although she was poor, and also attempted to pair up her daughters with only rich men. If Mrs. Bennet lacks in anything, it’s on being genuine. Her harsh words and ill manners towards Mr. Darcy is an example of how much a stranger Mrs. Bennet is to being genuine. The primary reason for her behavior was because Mr. Darcy refused to dance with her daughters. After finding out that Mr. Darcy has proposed to Elizabeth, she soon began to praise Mr. Darcy, even though moments before she was talking ill of him.
Mrs. Bennet is a dummy. The ventriloquist tells her what to say, although she doesn’t mean any of it. Her life is controlled by a hand, and in Mrs. Bennet’s case the hand is the importance of class. Her motives are simply because she feels obligated. She will give you compliments and good wishes, but at the end of the day she is controlled by something else, and all her words and intensions are only in hopes of benefitting her in some way.
Mrs. Bennet is like Perez Hilton, constantly talking about the flaws of others, but too shallow to notice their own.
Darcy
Dora Ocampo
AP English 11 –Mr. George
April 14, 2009
Easter Homework
Charming, beautiful, stunning, polite, and a gentleman, at least after getting over your first impression of Mr. Darcy.
Upon first meeting Mr. Darcy, he may come off as arrogant and conceited. His failure to dance with or acknowledge the females at the Pemberley ball forced this opinion of him on others, especially because his reason for not dancing or talking to the other girls was because there was no one beautiful enough. As time elapsed, the one who seemed to detest Mr. Darcy the most was soon changing her opinion of him. Mr. Darcy dropped the wall in front of him that wasn’t allowing him to show people who he really was, and explained to Elizabeth why it may appear as if he had a cold demeanor through a letter. Mr. Darcy’s true character shined after everyone realized that they were initially wrong about him.
Mr. Darcy is a mentos. When first seeing one, you are fooled by its hard, sugar coated surface, thinking that it will be more like a hall rather than a starburst. After having the mentos in your mouth for a while, you realize its chewy center, how soft it is, and how soft your breath is about to be.
Mr. Darcy is like George Clooney, both private and reserved people, but once their tough exteriors are broken down they have gentle souls.
AP English 11 –Mr. George
April 14, 2009
Easter Homework
Charming, beautiful, stunning, polite, and a gentleman, at least after getting over your first impression of Mr. Darcy.
Upon first meeting Mr. Darcy, he may come off as arrogant and conceited. His failure to dance with or acknowledge the females at the Pemberley ball forced this opinion of him on others, especially because his reason for not dancing or talking to the other girls was because there was no one beautiful enough. As time elapsed, the one who seemed to detest Mr. Darcy the most was soon changing her opinion of him. Mr. Darcy dropped the wall in front of him that wasn’t allowing him to show people who he really was, and explained to Elizabeth why it may appear as if he had a cold demeanor through a letter. Mr. Darcy’s true character shined after everyone realized that they were initially wrong about him.
Mr. Darcy is a mentos. When first seeing one, you are fooled by its hard, sugar coated surface, thinking that it will be more like a hall rather than a starburst. After having the mentos in your mouth for a while, you realize its chewy center, how soft it is, and how soft your breath is about to be.
Mr. Darcy is like George Clooney, both private and reserved people, but once their tough exteriors are broken down they have gentle souls.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
P&P #14 Chpts 13-15
“The Bennets were speedily pronounced to be the luckiest family in the world; though only a few weeks before, when Lydia had first run away, they had been generally proved to be marked out for misfortune” (339).
How ironic that after everyone lost respect for the Bennets, they rapidly regained it after Jane was engaged to Mr. Bingley. The Bennet family was deprived of respect because of Lydia and her ill-natured characteristics. She is very selfish and self-centered, because she didn’t worry about how her actions were going to affect her family. Because of Lydia’s aggressive and inconsiderate way of being, her family began to be ashamed of her: “ If you were aware […] of the very great disadvantage to us all, which must arise from the public notice of Lydia’s unguarded and imprudent manner, nay, which has already risen from it, I am sure you would judge differently in the affair” (225-226). After Jane and Mr. Bingley became engaged, it was as if the situation with Lydia had never occurred. This demonstrates how important stature, class, and wealth is in their society
What are Elizabeth’s feelings about Jane and Mr. Bingley’s engagement:
a. Jealous because she has yet to be married
b. Happy because she knows how much Jane likes Mr. Bingley
c. Disappointed in Jane for falling for Mr. Bingley again
d. Upset because now she’s going to be all alone with Mary and Catherine.
How ironic that after everyone lost respect for the Bennets, they rapidly regained it after Jane was engaged to Mr. Bingley. The Bennet family was deprived of respect because of Lydia and her ill-natured characteristics. She is very selfish and self-centered, because she didn’t worry about how her actions were going to affect her family. Because of Lydia’s aggressive and inconsiderate way of being, her family began to be ashamed of her: “ If you were aware […] of the very great disadvantage to us all, which must arise from the public notice of Lydia’s unguarded and imprudent manner, nay, which has already risen from it, I am sure you would judge differently in the affair” (225-226). After Jane and Mr. Bingley became engaged, it was as if the situation with Lydia had never occurred. This demonstrates how important stature, class, and wealth is in their society
What are Elizabeth’s feelings about Jane and Mr. Bingley’s engagement:
a. Jealous because she has yet to be married
b. Happy because she knows how much Jane likes Mr. Bingley
c. Disappointed in Jane for falling for Mr. Bingley again
d. Upset because now she’s going to be all alone with Mary and Catherine.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
P&P #13 Chpts 10-12
“He had done all this for a girl whom he could neither regard nor esteem. Her heart did whisper that he had done it for her. But it was a hope shortly checked by other considerations; and she soon felt that even her vanity was insufficient, when required to depend on his affection for her, for a woman who had already refused him, as able to overcome a sentiment so natural as abhorrence against relationship with Wickham” (316).
What a gentleman Mr. Darcy is, and all for the love of Elizabeth. He was not obligated to do all that he did for Lydia and Mr. Wickham, but out of love and respect for Elizabeth he did. Mr. Darcy convinced Wickham to marry Lydia for the sake of the reputation of the Bennet family and also paid Mr. Wickham to do so. Though personally I don’t believe what Mr. Darcy did to be very gentlemen like, at least in modern times, but during this time period Mr. Darcy’s acts were very much generous. And then it hit Elizabeth that maybe there is no hope for a marriage between them, for who in their right mind would propose to someone again after being rejected in such a harsh and foul manner. This reminder of how rare it would be for her to be proposed to again puts a damper on Elizabeth’s heart, especially since Mr. Darcy is not paying any attention to her. And the one instance where Mr. Darcy did converse with Elizabeth, he walked away after a brief moment of silence. Elizabeth messed up.
What can be the root of Mrs. Bennet’s hatred towards Mr. Darcy:
a. He won’t marry Jane
b. He convinced Wickham to marry Lydia
c. He wouldn’t pay attention to any of the girls at the ball in which they met
d. He looks down upon the Bennet family
e. He is inconsiderate of others
What a gentleman Mr. Darcy is, and all for the love of Elizabeth. He was not obligated to do all that he did for Lydia and Mr. Wickham, but out of love and respect for Elizabeth he did. Mr. Darcy convinced Wickham to marry Lydia for the sake of the reputation of the Bennet family and also paid Mr. Wickham to do so. Though personally I don’t believe what Mr. Darcy did to be very gentlemen like, at least in modern times, but during this time period Mr. Darcy’s acts were very much generous. And then it hit Elizabeth that maybe there is no hope for a marriage between them, for who in their right mind would propose to someone again after being rejected in such a harsh and foul manner. This reminder of how rare it would be for her to be proposed to again puts a damper on Elizabeth’s heart, especially since Mr. Darcy is not paying any attention to her. And the one instance where Mr. Darcy did converse with Elizabeth, he walked away after a brief moment of silence. Elizabeth messed up.
What can be the root of Mrs. Bennet’s hatred towards Mr. Darcy:
a. He won’t marry Jane
b. He convinced Wickham to marry Lydia
c. He wouldn’t pay attention to any of the girls at the ball in which they met
d. He looks down upon the Bennet family
e. He is inconsiderate of others
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Huck Finn Essay
Dora Ocampo
AP English 11 – Mr. George
March 25, 2009
Huck Finn Essay
Ever heard of the idea that opposites attract? When using magnets, in order to attract them “you have to place opposite ends of two magnets near each other” (Madison). In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, protagonist Huckleberry Finn and friend Tom Sawyer are, in this case, the opposite ends of two magnets. What’s so different about them? Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer differ from each other in their upbringings, their outlook on life, and in the manner that they treat others.
Huckleberry Finn is not your typical white male; he was born and raised at the bottom of the white society. As if that wasn’t bad enough, he was also born to a father who spent most of his time getting drunk and to a father who abandons his child for months at a time. Luckily for Huck, he was blessed with the influences of Widow Douglas and Miss Watson. Widow Douglas was more of a mother figure to Huck: “she took me for her son, and allowed she would sivilize [sic] me” (Twain 9), while Miss Watson enforced the importance of school. As hard as Widow Douglas and Miss Watson both tried to in a sense reform Huck, their efforts were ignored, for Huck enjoyed the life of having on dirty clothes and swearing: “my clothes got to be all rags and dirt, and I didn’t see how I’d ever got to like it so well at the widow’s” (34). Huck Finn was clearly not ready for a change, at least lifestyle wise.
As for Tom Sawyer, we don’t receive much background information on his life and how he was brought up. Considering how Tom and Huck contrast each other in every aspect in the book, it is safe to infer that Tom Sawyer did not have to go through the struggles that Huck has undergone. Also, as far as values go, Tom Sawyer was taught to always follow the rules. His decisions are based on what books have taught him: “Everybody said it was a real beautiful oath, and asked Tom if he got it out of his own head. He said, some of it, but the rest was out of pirate books, and robber books, and every gang that was high-toned had it” (16). Tom accepts the world as it has been explained to him, and is incapable of realizing the unjust and unethical beliefs. Huck, unlike Tom, does realize these immoral beliefs.
Huck Finn’s upbringing led to his independent state of mind. Both pap and Miss Watson were influential figures to Huck, since they are so different from each other and obviously have different opinions, instead of Huck letting this confuse him, it forced him to think on his own. Huck was left to reason out everything, and because of this Huck is very skeptical about the world around him or things that people teach him. For example, Widow Douglas taught Huck that he can get whatever he wants through prayer. As naïve as Huck Finn is, he decided to pray for materialistic and unreasonable things. His failure in receiving those things led to his conclusion about prayer: “there’s something in it when a body like the widow or the parson prays, but it don’t work for me, and I reckon it don’t work for only just the right kind” (48). Superstitions, prayers, and many other things are some examples of occasions where Huck chooses to learn things on his own, giving himself his own interpretation of life.
Unlike Huck, Tom Sawyer is very fastidious to society. He recognizes what is going on around him, and instead of voicing his opinions he simply conforms. There is not much emotional depth to Tom, because instead of being amiable towards his friends, he is very self-centered and haughty. This is nothing like Huck, and Huck shows us that the way we perceive things and people affect how we treat others.
Jim, as a black enslaved male, was usually treated with maliciousness and insolent behavior. Huck, though hesitant about it, digressed from society’s usual treatment of slaves. A friendship developed between Jim and Huck, and Jim seems to be taking their relationship very seriously. During their friendship, Jim is embarking on his journey to seek freedom, and during this journey Huck has an ultimatum put in front of him. Huck can either turn Jim in or cover up for him. At first, in Huck’s eyes, turning Jim in was doing the correct thing, but instead of advocating the practice of slavery, Huck decided to purport that Jim had a case of small pox. Rather than treating Jim as an object, Huck treated Jim as a human being.
Tom’s self-centered attitude is his hugest downfall. He is very fastidious to society, not so much because it is right, but more for the sense of adventure. Adventures are something that Tom really values, yet he finds the lives of others and himself paltry. For example, Tom Sawyer knew very well that Miss Watson had died, and that in her will it stated that Jim would be a free black, instead he decides to not tell Huck about this and make this whole situation into an adventure: “But there’s one thing – he can have a rope-ladder; we can tear up our sheets and make him a rope-ladder easy enough” (254). A rope-ladder was not at all necessary, nor was chopping off Jim’s leg and many other things. Tom didn’t care about how his actions affected others.
Huck is more independent while Tom depends on what society teaches him. Huck worries more about his own opinions rather than the opinions of everyone else. Huck venerates those who are deserving of it while Tom’s main focus is on himself. Between Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer, comparisons fail to subsist. Overall, Huck is a better individual, and what makes it most interesting is that he taught himself to be the way that he is.
You have to want to change in order to change. Tom didn’t want to change that badly. Huck refused to be like everyone else.
Work Cited
WiseGeek. http://www.wisegeek.com/how-do-magnets-work.htm. 03/24/09.
Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. New York, New York. Penguin Group. 1985.
AP English 11 – Mr. George
March 25, 2009
Huck Finn Essay
Ever heard of the idea that opposites attract? When using magnets, in order to attract them “you have to place opposite ends of two magnets near each other” (Madison). In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, protagonist Huckleberry Finn and friend Tom Sawyer are, in this case, the opposite ends of two magnets. What’s so different about them? Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer differ from each other in their upbringings, their outlook on life, and in the manner that they treat others.
Huckleberry Finn is not your typical white male; he was born and raised at the bottom of the white society. As if that wasn’t bad enough, he was also born to a father who spent most of his time getting drunk and to a father who abandons his child for months at a time. Luckily for Huck, he was blessed with the influences of Widow Douglas and Miss Watson. Widow Douglas was more of a mother figure to Huck: “she took me for her son, and allowed she would sivilize [sic] me” (Twain 9), while Miss Watson enforced the importance of school. As hard as Widow Douglas and Miss Watson both tried to in a sense reform Huck, their efforts were ignored, for Huck enjoyed the life of having on dirty clothes and swearing: “my clothes got to be all rags and dirt, and I didn’t see how I’d ever got to like it so well at the widow’s” (34). Huck Finn was clearly not ready for a change, at least lifestyle wise.
As for Tom Sawyer, we don’t receive much background information on his life and how he was brought up. Considering how Tom and Huck contrast each other in every aspect in the book, it is safe to infer that Tom Sawyer did not have to go through the struggles that Huck has undergone. Also, as far as values go, Tom Sawyer was taught to always follow the rules. His decisions are based on what books have taught him: “Everybody said it was a real beautiful oath, and asked Tom if he got it out of his own head. He said, some of it, but the rest was out of pirate books, and robber books, and every gang that was high-toned had it” (16). Tom accepts the world as it has been explained to him, and is incapable of realizing the unjust and unethical beliefs. Huck, unlike Tom, does realize these immoral beliefs.
Huck Finn’s upbringing led to his independent state of mind. Both pap and Miss Watson were influential figures to Huck, since they are so different from each other and obviously have different opinions, instead of Huck letting this confuse him, it forced him to think on his own. Huck was left to reason out everything, and because of this Huck is very skeptical about the world around him or things that people teach him. For example, Widow Douglas taught Huck that he can get whatever he wants through prayer. As naïve as Huck Finn is, he decided to pray for materialistic and unreasonable things. His failure in receiving those things led to his conclusion about prayer: “there’s something in it when a body like the widow or the parson prays, but it don’t work for me, and I reckon it don’t work for only just the right kind” (48). Superstitions, prayers, and many other things are some examples of occasions where Huck chooses to learn things on his own, giving himself his own interpretation of life.
Unlike Huck, Tom Sawyer is very fastidious to society. He recognizes what is going on around him, and instead of voicing his opinions he simply conforms. There is not much emotional depth to Tom, because instead of being amiable towards his friends, he is very self-centered and haughty. This is nothing like Huck, and Huck shows us that the way we perceive things and people affect how we treat others.
Jim, as a black enslaved male, was usually treated with maliciousness and insolent behavior. Huck, though hesitant about it, digressed from society’s usual treatment of slaves. A friendship developed between Jim and Huck, and Jim seems to be taking their relationship very seriously. During their friendship, Jim is embarking on his journey to seek freedom, and during this journey Huck has an ultimatum put in front of him. Huck can either turn Jim in or cover up for him. At first, in Huck’s eyes, turning Jim in was doing the correct thing, but instead of advocating the practice of slavery, Huck decided to purport that Jim had a case of small pox. Rather than treating Jim as an object, Huck treated Jim as a human being.
Tom’s self-centered attitude is his hugest downfall. He is very fastidious to society, not so much because it is right, but more for the sense of adventure. Adventures are something that Tom really values, yet he finds the lives of others and himself paltry. For example, Tom Sawyer knew very well that Miss Watson had died, and that in her will it stated that Jim would be a free black, instead he decides to not tell Huck about this and make this whole situation into an adventure: “But there’s one thing – he can have a rope-ladder; we can tear up our sheets and make him a rope-ladder easy enough” (254). A rope-ladder was not at all necessary, nor was chopping off Jim’s leg and many other things. Tom didn’t care about how his actions affected others.
Huck is more independent while Tom depends on what society teaches him. Huck worries more about his own opinions rather than the opinions of everyone else. Huck venerates those who are deserving of it while Tom’s main focus is on himself. Between Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer, comparisons fail to subsist. Overall, Huck is a better individual, and what makes it most interesting is that he taught himself to be the way that he is.
You have to want to change in order to change. Tom didn’t want to change that badly. Huck refused to be like everyone else.
Work Cited
WiseGeek. http://www.wisegeek.com/how-do-magnets-work.htm. 03/24/09.
Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. New York, New York. Penguin Group. 1985.
P&P #11 Chpts 3-6
“Imprudent as a marriage between Mr. Wickham and our poor Lydia would be, we are now anxious to be assured it has taken place, for there is but too much reason to fear they are not gone to Scotland” (26
5).
In a letter Jane explains to Elizabeth what has happened with Lydia. To the audience this is no surprise because we are used to Lydia humiliating her family: “Our importance, our respectability in the world must be affected by the wild volatility, the assurance and disdain of all restraint which mark Lydia’s character” (226), but to Elizabeth this was an enormous surprise. As Elizabeth was hurriedly going out the door, she saw Mr. Darcy, and explained to him what happened. “I am grieved, indeed” (269), was Mr. Darcy’s reaction. This says a lot about his character, especially since Mr. Wickham previously eloped with his sister, which is one of the many reasons as to why they don’t get along. This is another counter example as to how Elizabeth was wrong about her first impressions with Mr. Darcy.
Miss Bingley’s cold demeanor toward Elizabeth is rooted from:
a. That is how Miss Bingley is towards everyone
b. Jealousy; Miss Bingley wants Mr. Darcy while Elizabeth has him
c. She is trying to distance herself from Elizabeth
d. She found out something about Elizabeth that made her lose respect for Lizzy
5).In a letter Jane explains to Elizabeth what has happened with Lydia. To the audience this is no surprise because we are used to Lydia humiliating her family: “Our importance, our respectability in the world must be affected by the wild volatility, the assurance and disdain of all restraint which mark Lydia’s character” (226), but to Elizabeth this was an enormous surprise. As Elizabeth was hurriedly going out the door, she saw Mr. Darcy, and explained to him what happened. “I am grieved, indeed” (269), was Mr. Darcy’s reaction. This says a lot about his character, especially since Mr. Wickham previously eloped with his sister, which is one of the many reasons as to why they don’t get along. This is another counter example as to how Elizabeth was wrong about her first impressions with Mr. Darcy.
Miss Bingley’s cold demeanor toward Elizabeth is rooted from:
a. That is how Miss Bingley is towards everyone
b. Jealousy; Miss Bingley wants Mr. Darcy while Elizabeth has him
c. She is trying to distance herself from Elizabeth
d. She found out something about Elizabeth that made her lose respect for Lizzy
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
P&P #9 Chpts 14-18
“Oh, your father, of course, may spare you, if your mother can. Daughters are never of so much consequence to a father” (208).
From the way that society appears then, and most of the time appears now, most females have a better relationship with their mothers. In my situation, my relationship between my mom and I is infinitely more strong than my father and I’s. For Elizabeth, it is vice versa. As we see there are many differences between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. For one, Mr. Bennet is interested in Elizabeth rather than the property that she may one day have the pleasure to own. Also, Elizabeth is very intelligent and has a strong character, something that both Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bennet admire. Ultimately, we see Mr. Bennet’s love for Elizabeth when he expressed how happy he is to have Elizabeth back at home: “I am glad you are come back, Lizzy” (217).
According to Chapter 16, the chapter in which we finally see Lydia playing a role in this novel, what can we infer about what type of person she is:
a. Jokester
b. Immature
c. Serious
d. Angry
e. Provides comic relief
Monday, March 30, 2009
P&P #8 Chpts 11-13
“In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you” (188).
Mr. Darcy has randomly appeared at the Parsonage and his visit is being very much questioned by others. His sudden appearance leads us to infer that he is fond of Lizzy. There is also a different type of attitude coming from Elizabeth towards Mr. Darcy, because for once she is in a way complementing him instead of butchering his name: “I do not know any body who seems more to enjoy the power of doing what he likes than Mr. Darcy” (182). And just when Elizabeth started to be nice to Mr. Darcy, she rejects Mr. Darcy’s proposal in a manner that was uncalled for, especially after his meaningful proposal to Elizabeth. Darcy also shows to Elizabeth just how much he cares and how she is wrong about him through the very long letter written to Elizabeth. At the beginning of the novel, author Jane Austen persuaded her audience to develop a dislike towards Mr. Darcy. In the Second Volume, we see that Jane Austen is persuading us to be more sympathetic for Mr. Darcy. Personally, it is working.
What was the main purpose of Mr. Darcy’s letter to Elizabeth:
a. To gain sympathy from her
b. So that she would reconsider his proposal
c. His final goodbye
d. So that Elizabeth can understand Mr. Darcy
e. A,b, and d.
Mr. Darcy has randomly appeared at the Parsonage and his visit is being very much questioned by others. His sudden appearance leads us to infer that he is fond of Lizzy. There is also a different type of attitude coming from Elizabeth towards Mr. Darcy, because for once she is in a way complementing him instead of butchering his name: “I do not know any body who seems more to enjoy the power of doing what he likes than Mr. Darcy” (182). And just when Elizabeth started to be nice to Mr. Darcy, she rejects Mr. Darcy’s proposal in a manner that was uncalled for, especially after his meaningful proposal to Elizabeth. Darcy also shows to Elizabeth just how much he cares and how she is wrong about him through the very long letter written to Elizabeth. At the beginning of the novel, author Jane Austen persuaded her audience to develop a dislike towards Mr. Darcy. In the Second Volume, we see that Jane Austen is persuading us to be more sympathetic for Mr. Darcy. Personally, it is working.
What was the main purpose of Mr. Darcy’s letter to Elizabeth:
a. To gain sympathy from her
b. So that she would reconsider his proposal
c. His final goodbye
d. So that Elizabeth can understand Mr. Darcy
e. A,b, and d.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
P&P #6 Chpts 2-5
“and as a punishment for him, as well as a possible advantage to Jane, she seriously hoped he might really soon marry Mr. Darcy’s sister, as, by Wickham’s account, she would make him abundantly regret what he had thrown away” (149).
In the past couple of pages we see that Jane and Elizabeth are actually interacting with each other as normal sisters would. Lydia and Catherina are always together, but we never heard of such a sort with Jane and Elizabeth. This may have been because of the competition that both their parents caused. Mr. Bennet was constantly saying that Elizabeth was better and Mrs. Bennet did the same with Jane. With the quote above we see Elizabeth being sympathetic to Jane, her situation, and her feelings. Considering Elizabeth’s personality, the quote above is said with all of the sincerity in Elizabeth’s heart, for she seems to be one of the only true person in the novel thus far. She speaks her mind and does not hold back.
“Last Christmas you were afraid of his marrying me, because it would be imprudent; and now, because he is trying to get a girl with only ten thousand pounds, you want me to find out that he is mercenary” (153).
With the quote given above, what can be inferred about Mrs. Gardiner’s intentions?:
a. She is trying to be useful
b. She is trying to get information out of Elizabeth
c. She is trying to take advantage of Elizabeth’s trust in her
d. She is trying to appear as the cool aunt
In the past couple of pages we see that Jane and Elizabeth are actually interacting with each other as normal sisters would. Lydia and Catherina are always together, but we never heard of such a sort with Jane and Elizabeth. This may have been because of the competition that both their parents caused. Mr. Bennet was constantly saying that Elizabeth was better and Mrs. Bennet did the same with Jane. With the quote above we see Elizabeth being sympathetic to Jane, her situation, and her feelings. Considering Elizabeth’s personality, the quote above is said with all of the sincerity in Elizabeth’s heart, for she seems to be one of the only true person in the novel thus far. She speaks her mind and does not hold back.
“Last Christmas you were afraid of his marrying me, because it would be imprudent; and now, because he is trying to get a girl with only ten thousand pounds, you want me to find out that he is mercenary” (153).
With the quote given above, what can be inferred about Mrs. Gardiner’s intentions?:
a. She is trying to be useful
b. She is trying to get information out of Elizabeth
c. She is trying to take advantage of Elizabeth’s trust in her
d. She is trying to appear as the cool aunt
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
P&P #5 Chpts 21-1
“I am not romantic, you know. I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and, considering Mr. Collin’s character, connection, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state” (125).
Sounds familiar? With the quote above, Charlotte explains to Elizabeth why she is marrying Mr. Collins. Nowhere in her explanation does she bring up love or even him, besides the fact that marrying Mr. Collins will be beneficial to her. Where have we heard this before? When Mr. Collins was proposing to Elizabeth, nowhere did he mention Elizabeth: “first, that I think it a right thing for every clergyman […] secondly, that I am convinced it will add very greatly to my happiness […] thirdly, […] it is the particular advice and recommendation of the very noble lady whom I have the honour of calling patroness” (105). Also, we find out that Mr. Collins is moving, something that Mr. Bennet is very pleased about while Mrs. Bennet is highly upset with.
How does Jane feel about Caroline’s letter to her?
a. Nervous
b. Excited
c. Worried
d. Both a and c
e. None of the above
Sounds familiar? With the quote above, Charlotte explains to Elizabeth why she is marrying Mr. Collins. Nowhere in her explanation does she bring up love or even him, besides the fact that marrying Mr. Collins will be beneficial to her. Where have we heard this before? When Mr. Collins was proposing to Elizabeth, nowhere did he mention Elizabeth: “first, that I think it a right thing for every clergyman […] secondly, that I am convinced it will add very greatly to my happiness […] thirdly, […] it is the particular advice and recommendation of the very noble lady whom I have the honour of calling patroness” (105). Also, we find out that Mr. Collins is moving, something that Mr. Bennet is very pleased about while Mrs. Bennet is highly upset with.
How does Jane feel about Caroline’s letter to her?
a. Nervous
b. Excited
c. Worried
d. Both a and c
e. None of the above
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
P&P #4 Chpts 17-20
“I do not get on at all. I hear such different accounts of you as puzzle me exceedingly” (94).
In the next three pages, we see Elizabeth Bennet being prejudice many times with different people. Elizabeth in the quote above bluntly states her prejudice towards Mr. Darcy. She allows herself to be manipulated by the words of others, and allows those words to affect her opinions on people. Not only is Elizabeth being prejudiced but she refuses to accept the advice of others when telling her things that she does not want to hear: “Let me recommend you, however, as a friend not to give implicit confidence to all his assertions” (95). Elizabeth chooses to ignore the warning given to her by Miss Bingley about Mr. Wickham and says “I shall venture still to think of both gentlemen as I did before” (96). This is an example of how people can remain prejudice after realizing that they were wrong.
Which of these examples best foreshadow what is going to happen with the novel:
a. Elizabeth and Mr. Wickham will get married
b. Jane and Mr. Bingley will get married
c. Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham will duel over Elizabeth’s hand in marriage
d. Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham are not who they appear to be
e. Mr. Bingley has been deceiving everyone
In the next three pages, we see Elizabeth Bennet being prejudice many times with different people. Elizabeth in the quote above bluntly states her prejudice towards Mr. Darcy. She allows herself to be manipulated by the words of others, and allows those words to affect her opinions on people. Not only is Elizabeth being prejudiced but she refuses to accept the advice of others when telling her things that she does not want to hear: “Let me recommend you, however, as a friend not to give implicit confidence to all his assertions” (95). Elizabeth chooses to ignore the warning given to her by Miss Bingley about Mr. Wickham and says “I shall venture still to think of both gentlemen as I did before” (96). This is an example of how people can remain prejudice after realizing that they were wrong.
Which of these examples best foreshadow what is going to happen with the novel:
a. Elizabeth and Mr. Wickham will get married
b. Jane and Mr. Bingley will get married
c. Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham will duel over Elizabeth’s hand in marriage
d. Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham are not who they appear to be
e. Mr. Bingley has been deceiving everyone
Thursday, March 19, 2009
P&P #2 Chpts 7 - 10
“Bingley was quite uncomfortable: his sisters declared that they were miserable” (41).
Through the quote above we see what type of person Mr. Bingley is. Not only is he charming and handsome, but also he is kind and considerate. In the quote about we see how the moods of his sisters affect him, meaning that he is a very thoughtful person. These qualities in him are what set him aside from all the other characters that we have met, besides Mr. Bennet. Mrs. Bennet is very much like a gold digger, and only worries about who her daughters can potentially marry. There is no depth to Mrs. Bennet, but there is certainly a depth to Mr. Bingley. His good looks and outstanding qualities is what makes him so likeable and affable.
“if your daughter should have a dangerous fit of illness, if she should die, it would be a comfort to know that it was all in pursuit of Mr. Bingley” (32).
What is the tone in which Mr. Bennet is speaking in the quote above:
a. Serious
b. Sarcastic
c. Relieved
d. Stressed
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
P&P #1 Chpts 1 - 6
“Between him [Mr. Bingley] and Darcy there was a very steady friendship, in spite of a great opposition of character” (18).
Mr. Bingley is clearly more amiable than Mr. Darcy, and everyone seems to make note of that. His taciturn personality towards those who he is not intimate friends with makes him seem very insolent. Most blame his pride for being the way that he is and consider it his downfall, since he is more handsome than Mr. Bingley, but his personality lacks depth. Mary realized the effect that pride has on most humans: “Pride […] is a very common failing. I believe” (Austen 21). C.S. Lewis also agrees with this theory, for he refers to pride as “The utmost evil” (Lewis 121).
Mr. Bennet favors Elizabeth because she is:
a. Religious
b. Intelligent
c. Obsequious
d. Beautiful
e. Reserved
Mr. Bingley is clearly more amiable than Mr. Darcy, and everyone seems to make note of that. His taciturn personality towards those who he is not intimate friends with makes him seem very insolent. Most blame his pride for being the way that he is and consider it his downfall, since he is more handsome than Mr. Bingley, but his personality lacks depth. Mary realized the effect that pride has on most humans: “Pride […] is a very common failing. I believe” (Austen 21). C.S. Lewis also agrees with this theory, for he refers to pride as “The utmost evil” (Lewis 121).
Mr. Bennet favors Elizabeth because she is:
a. Religious
b. Intelligent
c. Obsequious
d. Beautiful
e. Reserved
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Huck Finn 9: 185-209
“I felt so ornery and low down and mean, that I says to myself, My mind’s made up; I’ll hive that money for them or bust”(188).
At the beginning of the novel, Huck was very ignorant with the way that he went about things. His mindset was still in an amateur state. With the quote above, we see Huck’s mind developing. This novel is not only about Huck’s adventures but also about his journey to become mature. The quote above is the beginning of the journey to become mature for Huck. Huck’s decision to get the money for the girls was because he noticed and realized how they sympathized and how good they were to him: “If you was in his place, it would make you feel ashamed; and so you oughn’t to say a thing to another person that will make them feel ashamed” (188).
“the thing’s awful mixed, now; trying to better it, I’ve worsened it a hundred times, and I wish to goodness I’d just let it alone, dad fetch the whole business!” (195).
We also see Huck’s conscience developing in the quote above, along with his maturity. Usually when one regrets something, it’s because you did something bad. Here Huck regrets trying to do something good for another person. This can be seen as a step backward from maturing or a step forward. It can be seen as a step backward because a part of being mature and growing up is learning to own up to one’s actions and accepting the consequences. We see that Huck is afraid of that. We can also see this as a step forward because he is realizing that he should have never put his nose where it didn’t belong.
Shroud
–noun
1. a cloth or sheet in which a corpse is wrapped for burial.
“with a wet cloth over it, and his shroud on” (192).
Passe
–noun
a group or lot of indeterminate number: a passel of dignitaries.
"March off like a passel o' fools and leave eight or nine thous'n' dollars'"(190).
At the beginning of the novel, Huck was very ignorant with the way that he went about things. His mindset was still in an amateur state. With the quote above, we see Huck’s mind developing. This novel is not only about Huck’s adventures but also about his journey to become mature. The quote above is the beginning of the journey to become mature for Huck. Huck’s decision to get the money for the girls was because he noticed and realized how they sympathized and how good they were to him: “If you was in his place, it would make you feel ashamed; and so you oughn’t to say a thing to another person that will make them feel ashamed” (188).
“the thing’s awful mixed, now; trying to better it, I’ve worsened it a hundred times, and I wish to goodness I’d just let it alone, dad fetch the whole business!” (195).
We also see Huck’s conscience developing in the quote above, along with his maturity. Usually when one regrets something, it’s because you did something bad. Here Huck regrets trying to do something good for another person. This can be seen as a step backward from maturing or a step forward. It can be seen as a step backward because a part of being mature and growing up is learning to own up to one’s actions and accepting the consequences. We see that Huck is afraid of that. We can also see this as a step forward because he is realizing that he should have never put his nose where it didn’t belong.
Shroud
–noun
1. a cloth or sheet in which a corpse is wrapped for burial.
“with a wet cloth over it, and his shroud on” (192).
Passe
–noun
a group or lot of indeterminate number: a passel of dignitaries.
"March off like a passel o' fools and leave eight or nine thous'n' dollars'"(190).
Huck Dialogue
Dora Ocampo
AP U.S. English 11 – Mr. George
March 10, 2009
Huck
Pap ain’t never taught me nothing. Nothing besides the fact to let people have their own way. When I done saw what was going on between that girl and boy, I was shocked. Never in my life had I seen somethin’ of this sort. I hung around for a lil’ bit, decided to take a closer look. Then I heard leaves crumpling up and footsteps near me. I reckoned it was Jim, but when I turned around, it was Pap.
“What the hell is wrong with you boy?” said Pap. I was too afraid to answer. Pap looked at me up and down, and laughed at me. I ain’t know why, but I didn’t say anything still. “Ain’t so much better’n your father now huh? Atleast I know you ain’t fooling around that school anymore. I bet you is wondering what them people doing over there.”
I stayed quite, figured it were for the best. I says to myself, if I say something and Pap thinks its smart, I’d catch a beatin’. And I ain’t had one in so long that I don’t never want another one again. I let Pap tell me what was going on, they was having something called sex, He ain’t do that good of a job at explaining though, all he said was that I was made this way. I reckoned he was just drunk. Pap kept talking, mumbling and all, and he ain’t never stopped. Didn’t look like he was gon’ be done talking for another fifteen minutes. I says to myself, maybe I should make a run for it. You know, meet back up with Jim, and then go far away so that Pap will never find me again.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Jim Dialogue
Dora Ocampo
AP English 11 – Mr. George
March 10, 2009
Jim
Dere ain’ nobody else like meh in dis world. Well, atleast I ain’ seen nobody in a’long time. I done figured dey ain’ peepo like meh anymo’. Only time I sees peepo like meh, I reck’n, is in mah dreams. I sees mah kids and mah wife, dah family I done lost. Dey prob’ly dun’t even think of meh. Maybe dey do, I ain’ really kno’, alls I kno’ is dat dey ain’ here for meh now.
Den I saw a fella dat done look jus’ like meh. We done had dah same colour skin and dah same type of herr. I hollered over at Huck, but he wus asleep. I done tried to throw sumthin’ at him, but he ain’ never wake. Dat fella kept walkin’ ova ta meh. I ain’ kno’ watta do. I reck’n I jus’ stay where I is and don’t move. Dah fella wus gettin’ closah and I be lyin’ if I done said I warn’t scurred.
Dah fella wus right next ta meh. “Hey dere!” I said. Dah fella jus’ looked over ta me. Looked at meh couple’a more times, den he said “ya kno’ where I can get sum strong leaves roun’ hurr?”
“I reck’n my frien’ Huck and me gots sum ova hurr by dis tree.” Dah fella stayed shut. “Mah name is Jim. Wat’s yurs?” Dah fella studdered, “mah name? I wus born Chris, buh dey call me Bear. Dey say Bear fits meh.” Well dey wus right. Bear wus a big fella, ain’ look like nobody can hurt him. Bear and meh sat down and we talked. Talked and talked and talked, till Huck woke up.
AP English 11 – Mr. George
March 10, 2009
Jim
Dere ain’ nobody else like meh in dis world. Well, atleast I ain’ seen nobody in a’long time. I done figured dey ain’ peepo like meh anymo’. Only time I sees peepo like meh, I reck’n, is in mah dreams. I sees mah kids and mah wife, dah family I done lost. Dey prob’ly dun’t even think of meh. Maybe dey do, I ain’ really kno’, alls I kno’ is dat dey ain’ here for meh now.
Den I saw a fella dat done look jus’ like meh. We done had dah same colour skin and dah same type of herr. I hollered over at Huck, but he wus asleep. I done tried to throw sumthin’ at him, but he ain’ never wake. Dat fella kept walkin’ ova ta meh. I ain’ kno’ watta do. I reck’n I jus’ stay where I is and don’t move. Dah fella wus gettin’ closah and I be lyin’ if I done said I warn’t scurred.
Dah fella wus right next ta meh. “Hey dere!” I said. Dah fella jus’ looked over ta me. Looked at meh couple’a more times, den he said “ya kno’ where I can get sum strong leaves roun’ hurr?”
“I reck’n my frien’ Huck and me gots sum ova hurr by dis tree.” Dah fella stayed shut. “Mah name is Jim. Wat’s yurs?” Dah fella studdered, “mah name? I wus born Chris, buh dey call me Bear. Dey say Bear fits meh.” Well dey wus right. Bear wus a big fella, ain’ look like nobody can hurt him. Bear and meh sat down and we talked. Talked and talked and talked, till Huck woke up.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Huck Finn 5: 130-157
“If I never learnt nothing else out of pap, I learnt that the best way to get along with his kind of people is to let them have their own way” (137).
It has been very clear throughout the novel that Pap has demonstrated false characteristics of what a man should be like. Pap is abusive, constantly intoxicated, and has no problem in taking food out of his son’s mouth to feed himself. Huck has two major influences in his life: Pap, and the Widow and Miss Watson combined. Huck usually tends to lean towards Pap’s influence, most likely because they have lived similar lifestyles and come from the same sort of upbringing. Huck decides to take into consideration the lesson that his Pap had taught him when realizing that the “duke” and “king” are not who they say they are. By allowing the “duke” and “king” to believe that Huck believes them, Huck is allowing them to believe that he is stupid and ignorant, hence there wouldn’t be any suspicions of Huck trying to do anything to trick them.
“They asked us considerable many questions; wanted to know what we covered up the raft that way for, and laid by in the day-time instead of running- was Jim a runaway nigger?” (138).
In previous chapters we see that Huck was faced with a difficult decision to make. Huck decided to go the “wrong” route in his eyes by covering up for Jim, and we see that covering up for Jim has become a sort of habit. Huck made up a story about Jim having small pox previously and now is making up another story about how his father and younger brother died after the raft fell over. Jim is clearly only lying to protect Jim and also to be a good friend to him, but I believe that all this lying that he is doing is going to lead to more serious lies that will get him in trouble.
Galoot
–noun Slang.
an awkward, eccentric, or foolish person.
“Next you’d see a raft sliding by, away off yonder, and maybe a galoot on it chopping” (130).
Contrite
–adjective
1. caused by or showing sincere remorse.
"come with contrite heart!" (143).
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Huck Finn 4: 89 - 129
"It takes fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger-- but I done it, and I warn't ever sorry for it afterwards, neither” (98).
The fact that a friendship developed between Jim and Huck is very rare, and Jim takes this friendship very seriously. Jim loves Huck dearly, and he shows this when he realizes that Huck isn’t dead: “It’s too good for true, honey, it’s too good for true” (96). Jim is clearly excited when he realizes that Huck is alive, but is hurt when Huck attempts to fool him.
“Well, then, says I, what’s the use you learning to do right, when it’s troublesome to do right and ain’t no trouble to do wrong, and the wages is just the same?” (104).
Deciding between right and wrong, who hasn’t been in that situation? The predicament in which Huck is confronted with is one of extreme difficulty. Jim is embarking on his journey to seek freedom, and Huck has an ultimatum in front of him. Huck can either turn Jim in or cover up for him. Due to the fact that Huck was brought up in a society where racism is normal, Huck’s definition of “right” is turning Jim in. When in reality, by turning Jim in, Huck would be advocating the practice of slavery, which is clearly not right.
Reticule
–noun
1. a small purse or bag, originally of network but later of silk, rayon, etc.
“holding a white handkerchief and a reticule" (113).
Pensive
–adjective
1. dreamily or wistfully thoughtful: a pensive mood.
2. expressing or revealing thoughtfulness, usually marked by some sadness: a pensive adagio.
“She was leaning pensive on a tombstone” (113).
Monday, March 2, 2009
Huck Finn 3: 47-66
“When it was dark I set by my camp fire smoking, and feeling pretty satisfied; but by-and-by it got sort of lonesome” (49).
Since the beginning of the novel, Huck has been feeling alone, even though in reality he wasn’t: “I felt so lonesome I most wished I was dead” (11), and he has continued to feel alone up to this point. It seemed as if something was missing in Huck’s life, and maybe it was a little bit of variety. Huck has been surrounded by the same people that he never felt close or connected to them. Miss Watson tried to get close to Huck, but Huck never really allowed her too. Huck never was able to trust in his pap, considering the fact that he was drunk all the time. I think that Huck will no longer be alone after finding Jim on the island, for Jim is different in all aspects.
“I said I wouldn’t, and I’ll stick to it. Honest injun I will” (53).
Tom Sawyer’s values of loyalty and integrity have rubbed off on Huck. I think that with the quote above, a lasting friendship has erupted between Huck and Jim. Following this quote, Jim confesses to Huck everything that has happened that lead to his escape from Miss Watson. Considering the fact that Jim was black and Huck was white, this was a very big risk for Jim to take, but there was trust between them.
Brash
–adjective Also, brashy.
1. impertinent; impudent; tactless: a brash young man.
2. hasty; rash; impetuous.
“When I got to camp I warn’t feeling very brash” (50).
Loll
–verb (used with object)
3. to allow to hang, droop, or dangle.
“we lolled on the grass and eat it smoking hot” (53).
Huck Finn 2: 28-46
You think you’re better’n your father, now, don’t you, because he can’t? I’ll take it out of you. Who told you you might meddle with such hifalut’n foolishness, hey?- who told you you could?” (29).
Huck Finn can be described as ignorant, but that is only because he is too young to know any better. The ignorance shown by Huck’s father in the quote above is not only surprising but also nauseating. The job of a parent figure is to be happy at your child’s success. It’s like when you finally beat your father in one-on-one basketball. You know that your father is somewhat upset at the fact that he’s finally getting old, but is happy that his son is growing up to be a man. Usually that is the reaction that is expected from a father, but since Huck’s father is both an alcoholic and abusive, he gets offended and decides to stop Huck from achieving.
“I say to myself, they’ll follow the track of that sackful of rocks to the shore and then drag the river for me” (44).
In the quote above, I realize how much not having a parent figure in Huck’s life has affected him. This quote seems like a cry for attention and it demonstrates to me how much Huck wants to be wanted. It appears as if Huck has experienced many disappointments in his life so he usually has a sort of shield up to hide his emotions. We see Huck’s disappointments when he at first was convinced that everyone’s only worry will be to find him: “They won’t ever hunt the river for anything but my dead carcass” (44). And in a matter of seconds he prepares himself for disappointment: “They’ll soon get tired of that, and won’t bother no more about me” (44). Gregory Raye’s word of advice to everyone was to “set your goals low, so that way you’ll never be disappointed”. I feel as if Huck has taken this advice.
Nabob
–noun
any of various types of boats small enough for sailing or rowing by one person.
“The awfulest nabob in the State” (37).
Slough
–noun
1.
an area of soft, muddy ground; swamp or swamplike region.
“There was a slough or a creek leading out of it on the other side” (43).
Huck Finn 1: 9-27
“Tom Sawyer’s Gang. Everybody that wants to join has got to take an oath, and write his name in blood” (15).
Tom Sawyer, in his little gang of friends, appears to be the leader of the group. He organizes them and calls out the shots. Personally, I believe that Tom Sawyer is the only character that will remain the same throughout the entire novel. With the quote above, Tom’s values are shown, and I think that loyalty and integrity are at the top of Tom’s priority list. This message is sent through the requirement of writing their names in blood to prove their dedication to the gang.
“I was so ignorant and so kind of low-down and ornery” (20).
The keyword in the quote above is “was”. I say this because obviously Huck believes that there is a difference in him that no longer makes him ignorant. At the very beginning of the novel, Huck was unwilling to being helped out by Miss Watson. It was like as if Huck refused to be a charity case. Well, this state of mind soon faded away when Huck said, “I must help other people, and do everything I could for other people, and look out for them all the time, and never think about myself” (19). Miss Watson has clearly influenced Huck and Huck realizes his need for change.
Injun
–noun Often Offensive.
an American Indian.
"I got an old tin lamp and an iron ring and went out in the woods and rubbed and rubbed till I sweat like an Injun" (23).
Skiff
–noun
any of various types of boats small enough for sailing or rowing by one person.
“So we unhitched a skiff and pulled down the river to mile and a half” (15).
Tom Sawyer, in his little gang of friends, appears to be the leader of the group. He organizes them and calls out the shots. Personally, I believe that Tom Sawyer is the only character that will remain the same throughout the entire novel. With the quote above, Tom’s values are shown, and I think that loyalty and integrity are at the top of Tom’s priority list. This message is sent through the requirement of writing their names in blood to prove their dedication to the gang.
“I was so ignorant and so kind of low-down and ornery” (20).
The keyword in the quote above is “was”. I say this because obviously Huck believes that there is a difference in him that no longer makes him ignorant. At the very beginning of the novel, Huck was unwilling to being helped out by Miss Watson. It was like as if Huck refused to be a charity case. Well, this state of mind soon faded away when Huck said, “I must help other people, and do everything I could for other people, and look out for them all the time, and never think about myself” (19). Miss Watson has clearly influenced Huck and Huck realizes his need for change.
Injun
–noun Often Offensive.
an American Indian.
"I got an old tin lamp and an iron ring and went out in the woods and rubbed and rubbed till I sweat like an Injun" (23).
Skiff
–noun
any of various types of boats small enough for sailing or rowing by one person.
“So we unhitched a skiff and pulled down the river to mile and a half” (15).
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Witticisms
1. The only wrong decision is indecision.
2. Life is like a book. It’s filled with climaxes, fairy tale endings, and disappointments. Every highlight in your life has a chapter dedicated to it. Regardless of the dissatisfaction with the way things are going, you manage to turn the page and continue reading.
3. Falling in love isn’t about chocolates, sweet poems, flowers, or holding hands. It’s not about long walks, romantic dinners, and sweet whispers in the ear. It’s about fighting, disagreeing, screaming at the top of your lungs, and still having the willingness to keep going on.
4. Sometimes the people we miss most are those that have been right by our sides all along. We’ve been too concerned with what we have been lacking rather than what we have been blessed with.
5. Forgiveness isn’t giving someone else another chance, its lowering one’s standards and settling for imperfection
6. The main component to love is money. Why else do you think women are more prone to fall in love?
7. Vain people are those who are too arrogant to admit that they are proud.
8. The chances that we are too afraid to take are disguised as dreams.
9. Love is life’s way of reminding us that no matter how hard we try, our efforts are unrecognized.
10. Trusting another is being weak enough to let someone enter our soul.
2. Life is like a book. It’s filled with climaxes, fairy tale endings, and disappointments. Every highlight in your life has a chapter dedicated to it. Regardless of the dissatisfaction with the way things are going, you manage to turn the page and continue reading.
3. Falling in love isn’t about chocolates, sweet poems, flowers, or holding hands. It’s not about long walks, romantic dinners, and sweet whispers in the ear. It’s about fighting, disagreeing, screaming at the top of your lungs, and still having the willingness to keep going on.
4. Sometimes the people we miss most are those that have been right by our sides all along. We’ve been too concerned with what we have been lacking rather than what we have been blessed with.
5. Forgiveness isn’t giving someone else another chance, its lowering one’s standards and settling for imperfection
6. The main component to love is money. Why else do you think women are more prone to fall in love?
7. Vain people are those who are too arrogant to admit that they are proud.
8. The chances that we are too afraid to take are disguised as dreams.
9. Love is life’s way of reminding us that no matter how hard we try, our efforts are unrecognized.
10. Trusting another is being weak enough to let someone enter our soul.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Dorian Gray Chpts 15 and 16
“She is very clever, too clever for a woman. She lacks the indefinable charm of weakness” (185).
Lord Henry has been very degrading and inconsiderate thus far in the novel. Not once has he ever taken into consideration the feelings and emotions of others when speaking. Harry has continuously referred to women negatively: “no woman is a genius. Women are a decorative sex. They never have anything to say, but they say it charmingly. Women represent the triumph of matter over mind” (51). Depicting females in a negative manner leads us to wonder what in Harry’s previous years or childhood led him to have such a negative perception of the sex.
“Something has happened to you, Dorian. Tell me what it is. You are not yourself to-night” (186).
The change that has occurred within Dorian has been recognized by everyone. Basil was the first one to become aware of Dorian’s transformation. As the years went on everyone else caught on as well. Women who were once enchanted by Dorian’s presence tend to flee when Dorian walks into the room. The fact that Lord Henry is realizing a change in Dorian is quite dumbfounding. One would imagine that Lord Henry would not be surprised at all with the transformation of Dorian. Does this mean that Dorian will ultimately end up being worse of a human being than Lord Henry?
Audacious
–adjective
1. extremely bold or daring; recklessly brave; fearless
“Oh! She is audacious enough for anything, my dear” (182).
Incorrigible
–adjective
1. not corrigible; bad beyond correction or reform
“Isn’t he incorrigible? Cried Dorian, leaning forward in his chair” (183).
Lord Henry has been very degrading and inconsiderate thus far in the novel. Not once has he ever taken into consideration the feelings and emotions of others when speaking. Harry has continuously referred to women negatively: “no woman is a genius. Women are a decorative sex. They never have anything to say, but they say it charmingly. Women represent the triumph of matter over mind” (51). Depicting females in a negative manner leads us to wonder what in Harry’s previous years or childhood led him to have such a negative perception of the sex.
“Something has happened to you, Dorian. Tell me what it is. You are not yourself to-night” (186).
The change that has occurred within Dorian has been recognized by everyone. Basil was the first one to become aware of Dorian’s transformation. As the years went on everyone else caught on as well. Women who were once enchanted by Dorian’s presence tend to flee when Dorian walks into the room. The fact that Lord Henry is realizing a change in Dorian is quite dumbfounding. One would imagine that Lord Henry would not be surprised at all with the transformation of Dorian. Does this mean that Dorian will ultimately end up being worse of a human being than Lord Henry?
Audacious
–adjective
1. extremely bold or daring; recklessly brave; fearless
“Oh! She is audacious enough for anything, my dear” (182).
Incorrigible
–adjective
1. not corrigible; bad beyond correction or reform
“Isn’t he incorrigible? Cried Dorian, leaning forward in his chair” (183).
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Dorian Gray Chpt 14
“Whatever my life is, he had more to do with the making or the marring of it than poor Harry has had. He may not have intended it, the result was the same” (173).
Dorian Gray is constantly trying to defend Lord Henry. Everyone blames Harry for Dorian’s new attitude and Dorian decides to shift the blame on someone who seems to not have been an influence to Dorian. At the beginning of the novel, we see how Dorian subconsciously influences Basil, yet Basil did not have the same effect on Dorian. At this point in the novel, Dorian decides to say that Basil has had an influence on his life, simply because the portrait painted by Basil has taught Dorian more about moral decisions than life itself.
“I had intended never to enter your house again, Gray. But you said it was a matter of life and death” (171).
In this chapter, we have been introduced to a new character by the name of Alan Campbell. There’s not much that we know of him besides that music drew him and Dorian together, he is very passionate about science, and for some unknown reason Dorian and Alan’s friendship failed. Though Dorian was no longer friends with Alan, Dorian still decided to seek his help. Dorian slipped Alan a note. Saying what? We don’t know. I’m guessing that it has something to do with their previous friendship. Or it can also be Dorian threatening to frame Alan for the murder of Basil.
Contralto
–noun
1. the lowest female voice or voice part, intermediate between soprano and tenor.
2. the alto, or highest male voice or voice part.
“tell of that curious statue that Gautier compares to a contralto voice” (169).
Precipice
–noun
1. a cliff with a vertical, nearly vertical, or overhanging face.
2. a situation of great peril
“while he by monstrous winds was being swept toward the jagged edge of some black cleft or precipice” (171).
Dorian Gray is constantly trying to defend Lord Henry. Everyone blames Harry for Dorian’s new attitude and Dorian decides to shift the blame on someone who seems to not have been an influence to Dorian. At the beginning of the novel, we see how Dorian subconsciously influences Basil, yet Basil did not have the same effect on Dorian. At this point in the novel, Dorian decides to say that Basil has had an influence on his life, simply because the portrait painted by Basil has taught Dorian more about moral decisions than life itself.
“I had intended never to enter your house again, Gray. But you said it was a matter of life and death” (171).
In this chapter, we have been introduced to a new character by the name of Alan Campbell. There’s not much that we know of him besides that music drew him and Dorian together, he is very passionate about science, and for some unknown reason Dorian and Alan’s friendship failed. Though Dorian was no longer friends with Alan, Dorian still decided to seek his help. Dorian slipped Alan a note. Saying what? We don’t know. I’m guessing that it has something to do with their previous friendship. Or it can also be Dorian threatening to frame Alan for the murder of Basil.
Contralto
–noun
1. the lowest female voice or voice part, intermediate between soprano and tenor.
2. the alto, or highest male voice or voice part.
“tell of that curious statue that Gautier compares to a contralto voice” (169).
Precipice
–noun
1. a cliff with a vertical, nearly vertical, or overhanging face.
2. a situation of great peril
“while he by monstrous winds was being swept toward the jagged edge of some black cleft or precipice” (171).
Monday, February 9, 2009
Dorian Gray Chpts 12 and 13
“Dorian Gray glanced at the picture, and suddenly an uncontrollable felling of hatred for Basil Hallward came over him, as though it had been suggested to him by the image on the canvas, whispered into his ear by those grinning lips” (162).
Dorian Gray has killed Basil. I’m pretty sure that I speak for everyone when saying that this act is much unexpected. As for Dorian, this is one act that he does not regret. Dorian’s lack of remorse is shown when referring to Basil’s dead body as a “thing” (163), and also with how calmly he felt. After reading this section, the only thing I can think about is how the portrait will look now. We also see towards the end of the chapter that Dorian is trying to map out how everything will play out: “with his curious, reserved habits, it would be months before any suspicions would be aroused. Months! Everything could be destroyed long before then” (164). Dorian Gray sounds a lot like Bigger Thomas from the Native Son in the quote previously mentioned. “He was not concerned with whether these acts were right or wrong; they simply appealed to him as possible venues of escape” (Wright 115). Dorian Gray killed Basil so that he can escape from the human reminder of his sins.
“I worshiped you too much. I am punished for it. You worshiped yourself too much. We are both punished” (162).
For the first time, we see Basil regretting the admiration he once had for Dorian Gray. Finally Basil has recognized the emotional abuse that he received from Dorian. While reading this, I felt liberated for Basil. It seemed as if Basil was holding himself back because he was too concerned with Dorian.
When saying that Basil has been punished for worshipping Dorian, he is referring back to the main reason why he decided to paint Dorian in the first place. Dorian obtained a beautiful glow that made it impossible to fall in love with him. Basil painted a portrait of Dorian never knowing that this painting would turn out to be a horrendous portrayal of Dorian’s soul. Previously in the novel, it was said that, “art […] were meant to be a form of autobiography” (13). Dorian’s disintegrating portrait may have foreshadowed Basil’s tragic death.
Petulant
–adjective
moved to or showing sudden, impatient irritation, esp. over some trifling annoyance:
“cried Dorian, in his petulant way, flinging himself down on the sofa” (153).
Satyr
–noun
1. Classical Mythology. one of a class of woodland deities, attendant on Bacchus, represented as part human, part horse, and sometimes part goat and noted for riotousness and lasciviousness.
2. a lascivious man; lecher.
“This is the face of a satyr” (161).
Dorian Gray has killed Basil. I’m pretty sure that I speak for everyone when saying that this act is much unexpected. As for Dorian, this is one act that he does not regret. Dorian’s lack of remorse is shown when referring to Basil’s dead body as a “thing” (163), and also with how calmly he felt. After reading this section, the only thing I can think about is how the portrait will look now. We also see towards the end of the chapter that Dorian is trying to map out how everything will play out: “with his curious, reserved habits, it would be months before any suspicions would be aroused. Months! Everything could be destroyed long before then” (164). Dorian Gray sounds a lot like Bigger Thomas from the Native Son in the quote previously mentioned. “He was not concerned with whether these acts were right or wrong; they simply appealed to him as possible venues of escape” (Wright 115). Dorian Gray killed Basil so that he can escape from the human reminder of his sins.
“I worshiped you too much. I am punished for it. You worshiped yourself too much. We are both punished” (162).
For the first time, we see Basil regretting the admiration he once had for Dorian Gray. Finally Basil has recognized the emotional abuse that he received from Dorian. While reading this, I felt liberated for Basil. It seemed as if Basil was holding himself back because he was too concerned with Dorian.
When saying that Basil has been punished for worshipping Dorian, he is referring back to the main reason why he decided to paint Dorian in the first place. Dorian obtained a beautiful glow that made it impossible to fall in love with him. Basil painted a portrait of Dorian never knowing that this painting would turn out to be a horrendous portrayal of Dorian’s soul. Previously in the novel, it was said that, “art […] were meant to be a form of autobiography” (13). Dorian’s disintegrating portrait may have foreshadowed Basil’s tragic death.
Petulant
–adjective
moved to or showing sudden, impatient irritation, esp. over some trifling annoyance:
“cried Dorian, in his petulant way, flinging himself down on the sofa” (153).
Satyr
–noun
1. Classical Mythology. one of a class of woodland deities, attendant on Bacchus, represented as part human, part horse, and sometimes part goat and noted for riotousness and lasciviousness.
2. a lascivious man; lecher.
“This is the face of a satyr” (161).
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Dorian Gray Chpt 11
“On his return he would sit in front of the picture, sometimes loathing it and himself, but filled, at other times, with that pride of individualism that is half the fascination of sin, and smiling, with secret pleasure, at the misshapen shadow that had to bear the burden that should have been his own” (144).
Dorian Gray is a very confused individual. He seems to be having many mixed emotions towards his portrait. Gray continues to flip flop on whether owning the portrait is a positive or negative thing for him. Gray also attempts to remain optimistic: “What was it to him how vile and full of shame it looked? Even if he told them, would they believe it?” (144). Gray is trying to look at the brighter side of the situation and is also using it as motivation for himself to never reveal his secret. If Gray believes that no one would believe him when revealing the truth, then all that does is just encourage him to continue hiding the truth.
“Is it insincerity such a terrible thing? I think not. It is merely a method by which we can multiply our personalities” (146).
It comes off as no surprise that Dorian would disagree with insincerity being such a terrible thing. Why? Because Dorian’s definition of what insincerity truly is perfectly describes what Dorian has become. Dorian’s change of character from the beginning of the novel is evident. As for multiple personalities, Dorian acts according to the people who surround him. For example, when Dorian is around Basil, Dorian is the teacher and Basil is the student. Dorian thinks himself wiser, better, and more intellectual. It is the other way around when Dorian is around Lord Henry, Harry is Mr. Miyagi and Dorian is Daniel. For Daniel, Mr. Miyagi’s guidance was beneficial to him. I doubt that Lord Henry would have the same type of positive influence on Daniel.
Bequeath
–verb (used with object)
1. to dispose of (personal property, esp. money) by last will: She bequeathed her half of the company to her niece.
2. to hand down; pass on.
“Had the lover of Giovanna of Naples bequeathed him some inheritance of sin and shame?” (147).
Sordid
–adjective
1. morally ignoble or base; vile: sordid methods.
2. meanly selfish, self-seeking, or mercenary.
3. dirty or filthy.
“in the sordid room of the little ill-famed tavern near the Docks” (131).
Dorian Gray is a very confused individual. He seems to be having many mixed emotions towards his portrait. Gray continues to flip flop on whether owning the portrait is a positive or negative thing for him. Gray also attempts to remain optimistic: “What was it to him how vile and full of shame it looked? Even if he told them, would they believe it?” (144). Gray is trying to look at the brighter side of the situation and is also using it as motivation for himself to never reveal his secret. If Gray believes that no one would believe him when revealing the truth, then all that does is just encourage him to continue hiding the truth.
“Is it insincerity such a terrible thing? I think not. It is merely a method by which we can multiply our personalities” (146).
It comes off as no surprise that Dorian would disagree with insincerity being such a terrible thing. Why? Because Dorian’s definition of what insincerity truly is perfectly describes what Dorian has become. Dorian’s change of character from the beginning of the novel is evident. As for multiple personalities, Dorian acts according to the people who surround him. For example, when Dorian is around Basil, Dorian is the teacher and Basil is the student. Dorian thinks himself wiser, better, and more intellectual. It is the other way around when Dorian is around Lord Henry, Harry is Mr. Miyagi and Dorian is Daniel. For Daniel, Mr. Miyagi’s guidance was beneficial to him. I doubt that Lord Henry would have the same type of positive influence on Daniel.
Bequeath
–verb (used with object)
1. to dispose of (personal property, esp. money) by last will: She bequeathed her half of the company to her niece.
2. to hand down; pass on.
“Had the lover of Giovanna of Naples bequeathed him some inheritance of sin and shame?” (147).
Sordid
–adjective
1. morally ignoble or base; vile: sordid methods.
2. meanly selfish, self-seeking, or mercenary.
3. dirty or filthy.
“in the sordid room of the little ill-famed tavern near the Docks” (131).
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Dorian Gray Chpts 9 and 10
“It is only shallow people who require years to get rid of an emotion. A man who is master of himself can end a sorrow as easily as he can invent a pleasure” (112).
Through the quote above Harry’s influence on Dorian is made very clear and evident. Dorian’s tone while speaking has changed from the beginning of the novel. It seems as if Dorian’s intention while speaking is to sound as insightful and persuasive as Lord Henry. This is not working for Dorian, especially not with Basil: “you talk as if you had no heart, no pity in you. It is all Harry’s influence. I see that” (112). Also, personally, I believe that the point that Dorian is try to make is very idiotic and not fully thought through. For in my opinion, shallow people are the ones that fail to express emotion.
“Beneath its purple pall the face painted on the canvas could grow bestial, sodden, and unclean. What did it matter? No one could see it. He himself would not see it. Why should he watch the hideous corruption of his soul?” (125).
In the quote above, what I predicted would happen just occurred. My theory was that because the portrait would be bearing Dorian’s sins, it would encourage him to continue to do wrong since his sins are not publicly shown. This is rather disappointing to hear because of how genuine and sincere Basil is, and how Dorian is just taking advantage of his kindness. Dorian is abusing the picture that took a long time to create. My perspective on Dorian has changed completely from the beginning of the book. I used to admire Dorian’s ability to go against the cruel things Lord Henry would say and now Dorian has been manipulated into believing and reciting all of Lord Henry’s beliefs.
Garrulous
–adjective
1. excessively talkative in a rambling, roundabout manner, esp. about trivial matters.
2. wordy or diffuse:
“She lingered for a few moments, and was garrulous over some detail of the household” (122).
Impecuniosity
–adjective
having little or no money; penniless; poor.
“whose admiration for art was considerably tempered by the inveterate impecuniosity of most of the artists who dwelt with him” (123).
Through the quote above Harry’s influence on Dorian is made very clear and evident. Dorian’s tone while speaking has changed from the beginning of the novel. It seems as if Dorian’s intention while speaking is to sound as insightful and persuasive as Lord Henry. This is not working for Dorian, especially not with Basil: “you talk as if you had no heart, no pity in you. It is all Harry’s influence. I see that” (112). Also, personally, I believe that the point that Dorian is try to make is very idiotic and not fully thought through. For in my opinion, shallow people are the ones that fail to express emotion.
“Beneath its purple pall the face painted on the canvas could grow bestial, sodden, and unclean. What did it matter? No one could see it. He himself would not see it. Why should he watch the hideous corruption of his soul?” (125).
In the quote above, what I predicted would happen just occurred. My theory was that because the portrait would be bearing Dorian’s sins, it would encourage him to continue to do wrong since his sins are not publicly shown. This is rather disappointing to hear because of how genuine and sincere Basil is, and how Dorian is just taking advantage of his kindness. Dorian is abusing the picture that took a long time to create. My perspective on Dorian has changed completely from the beginning of the book. I used to admire Dorian’s ability to go against the cruel things Lord Henry would say and now Dorian has been manipulated into believing and reciting all of Lord Henry’s beliefs.
Garrulous
–adjective
1. excessively talkative in a rambling, roundabout manner, esp. about trivial matters.
2. wordy or diffuse:
“She lingered for a few moments, and was garrulous over some detail of the household” (122).
Impecuniosity
–adjective
having little or no money; penniless; poor.
“whose admiration for art was considerably tempered by the inveterate impecuniosity of most of the artists who dwelt with him” (123).
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Dorian Gray Chpt 8
“the portrait that Basil Hallward had painted of him would be a guide to him through life” (99).
After the portrait of Dorian Gray was made, Dorian’s only wish was that, “the picture could change, and I could be always what I am now!” (29). After returning home from the play Romeo and Juliet, Dorian realized a change in the portrait of himself, it showed a cruelty around his lips. The cruelty around his lips appeared because of the cruel words he spoke to Sibyl, and shortly thereafter, Sibyl passed away. Dorian finds the fact that this portrait obtains the ability to read his soul as useful: “this portrait would be to him the most magical of mirrors […] it would reveal to him his own soul” (110). In reality, there would be no surprises and no excitement if everything were open for us to see. Sometimes the best thing in life is learning how to deal with stuff on your own.
“Someone has killed herself for love of you. I wish that I had ever had such an experience. It would have made me in love with love for the rest of my life” (105).
Lord Henry has a very different perspective on this situation than most. Most would refer to this situation as tragic, but Harry believes that if the woman he loved killed herself over him, he would be flattered. As seen throughout the novel thus far, Harry is not very fond of women in the romantic sense. Harry believes that women serve one purpose and one purpose only, sex. Harry even told us about how he left a girl because she was prepared to sacrifice the world for him. Apparently the world isn’t enough for Harry, all Harry wants is for a life to be sacrificed for him.
Opiate
–noun
1. a drug containing opium or its derivatives, used in medicine for inducing sleep and relieving pain.
2. any sedative, soporific, or narcotic.
3. anything that causes dullness or inaction or that soothes the feelings.
“There were opiates for remorse, drugs that could lull the moral sense to sleep” (100).
Labyrinth
–noun
1. an intricate combination of paths or passages in which it is difficult to find one's way or to reach the exit.
2. a maze of paths bordered by high hedges, as in a park or garden, for the amusement of those who search for a way out.
3. a complicated or tortuous arrangement, as of streets or buildings.
“to find his way through the sanguine labyrinth of passion through which he was wandering” (100).
After the portrait of Dorian Gray was made, Dorian’s only wish was that, “the picture could change, and I could be always what I am now!” (29). After returning home from the play Romeo and Juliet, Dorian realized a change in the portrait of himself, it showed a cruelty around his lips. The cruelty around his lips appeared because of the cruel words he spoke to Sibyl, and shortly thereafter, Sibyl passed away. Dorian finds the fact that this portrait obtains the ability to read his soul as useful: “this portrait would be to him the most magical of mirrors […] it would reveal to him his own soul” (110). In reality, there would be no surprises and no excitement if everything were open for us to see. Sometimes the best thing in life is learning how to deal with stuff on your own.
“Someone has killed herself for love of you. I wish that I had ever had such an experience. It would have made me in love with love for the rest of my life” (105).
Lord Henry has a very different perspective on this situation than most. Most would refer to this situation as tragic, but Harry believes that if the woman he loved killed herself over him, he would be flattered. As seen throughout the novel thus far, Harry is not very fond of women in the romantic sense. Harry believes that women serve one purpose and one purpose only, sex. Harry even told us about how he left a girl because she was prepared to sacrifice the world for him. Apparently the world isn’t enough for Harry, all Harry wants is for a life to be sacrificed for him.
Opiate
–noun
1. a drug containing opium or its derivatives, used in medicine for inducing sleep and relieving pain.
2. any sedative, soporific, or narcotic.
3. anything that causes dullness or inaction or that soothes the feelings.
“There were opiates for remorse, drugs that could lull the moral sense to sleep” (100).
Labyrinth
–noun
1. an intricate combination of paths or passages in which it is difficult to find one's way or to reach the exit.
2. a maze of paths bordered by high hedges, as in a park or garden, for the amusement of those who search for a way out.
3. a complicated or tortuous arrangement, as of streets or buildings.
“to find his way through the sanguine labyrinth of passion through which he was wandering” (100).
Monday, February 2, 2009
Dorian Gray Chpt 7
FIRST TIME TRYING THIS !
“You simply produce no effect. I loved you because you were marvelous, because you had genius and intellect, because you realized the dreams of great poets and gave shape and substance to the shadows of art” (91).
These words coming out of Dorian Gray’s mouth is very peculiar. All that the quote above is showing is how Dorian loved Sibyl for her talents, and not for who she was as a being. Dorian’s view of love differs from mine. My attraction towards others is not dependent on how well they do things, but on how caring they are towards my goals and me. Dorian is in love for all the wrong reasons with all the wrong expectations.
“if this girl can give a soul to those who have lived without one, if she can create the sense of beauty in people whose lives have been sordid and ugly, if she can strip them of their selfishness and lend them tears for sorrows that are not their own, she is worthy of all your adoration, worthy of the adoration of the world” (86).
When describing Sibyl to Basil and Harry, Dorian put Sibyl up on a pedestal. Dorian basically guaranteed that Sibyl will win over their hearts, and as seen in the rest of Chapter 7, Sibyl did not meet anyone’s expectations. Is this why Dorian is giving up on his love with Sibyl? Is it because he promised Basil and Harry to become infatuated with her presence alone? Maybe Dorian is giving up on Sibyl because after taunting his love and affection for Sibyl to Harry, she disappointed him, making Dorian going against all of Harry’s theories for no reason.
Discordant
–adjective
1. being at variance; disagreeing; incongruous: discordant opinions.
2. disagreeable to the ear; dissonant; harsh.
3. Geology. (of strata) structurally unconformable.
“Some women were laughing in the pit; their voices were horribly shrill and discordant” (85).
Disdain
–verb (used with object)
1. to look upon or treat with contempt; despise; scorn.
2. to think unworthy of notice, response, etc.; consider beneath oneself: to disdain replying to an insult.
“Dorian Gray, with his beautiful eyes, looked down at her, and his chiseled lips curled in exquisite disdain” (92).
“You simply produce no effect. I loved you because you were marvelous, because you had genius and intellect, because you realized the dreams of great poets and gave shape and substance to the shadows of art” (91).
These words coming out of Dorian Gray’s mouth is very peculiar. All that the quote above is showing is how Dorian loved Sibyl for her talents, and not for who she was as a being. Dorian’s view of love differs from mine. My attraction towards others is not dependent on how well they do things, but on how caring they are towards my goals and me. Dorian is in love for all the wrong reasons with all the wrong expectations.
“if this girl can give a soul to those who have lived without one, if she can create the sense of beauty in people whose lives have been sordid and ugly, if she can strip them of their selfishness and lend them tears for sorrows that are not their own, she is worthy of all your adoration, worthy of the adoration of the world” (86).
When describing Sibyl to Basil and Harry, Dorian put Sibyl up on a pedestal. Dorian basically guaranteed that Sibyl will win over their hearts, and as seen in the rest of Chapter 7, Sibyl did not meet anyone’s expectations. Is this why Dorian is giving up on his love with Sibyl? Is it because he promised Basil and Harry to become infatuated with her presence alone? Maybe Dorian is giving up on Sibyl because after taunting his love and affection for Sibyl to Harry, she disappointed him, making Dorian going against all of Harry’s theories for no reason.
Discordant
–adjective
1. being at variance; disagreeing; incongruous: discordant opinions.
2. disagreeable to the ear; dissonant; harsh.
3. Geology. (of strata) structurally unconformable.
“Some women were laughing in the pit; their voices were horribly shrill and discordant” (85).
Disdain
–verb (used with object)
1. to look upon or treat with contempt; despise; scorn.
2. to think unworthy of notice, response, etc.; consider beneath oneself: to disdain replying to an insult.
“Dorian Gray, with his beautiful eyes, looked down at her, and his chiseled lips curled in exquisite disdain” (92).
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Dorian Gray Chpts 5 and 6
“The terrible moment, the moment that night and day, for weeks and months, she had dreaded, had come at last, and yet she felt no terror” (75).
All throughout Chapter 5, James Vane has demonstrated his love, affection, and care for his sister, Sibyl Vane. He has especially shown an interest with Dorian Gray, and Gray’s interest with Sibyl. Although both James’ mother and sister reassure him that Gray is a gentleman, James decides to continue to have the “if he ever does you any wrong, I shall kill him” (73), mentality. This mentality of James’ may have developed from a question that lingered in his heart for years, whether his parents were married or not. Mrs. Vane defended James’ father as a “gentleman” (75), after James accused him of being a “scoundrel” (75). This may very well be the reason as to why James is so over protective.
“You must admit, Harry, that women give to men the very gold of their lives” (83).
Dorian Gray has found love, and this love is causing Dorian to realize that Lord Henry has been feeding him information that is not worth following: “When I am with her, I regret all that you have taught me. I become different from what you have known me to be […] makes me forget you and all your wrong, fascinating, poisonous, delightful theories” (82). This was not in accordance to Lord Henry’s plan of making Dorian Gray absolutely fascinated with him. In the quote above, it also shows how different Dorian and Harry are because Dorian previously described women as “a decorative sex. They never have anything to say, but they say it charmingly. Women represent the triumph of matter over mind” (51).
Querulously
–adjective
1. full of complaints; complaining.
2. characterized by or uttered in complaint; peevish: a querulous tone; constant querulous reminders of things to be done.
“’I don’t know how we could manage without him,’ answered the elder woman, querulously” (64).
Espial
–noun
1. the act of spying.
2. the act of keeping watch; observation.
“Then Wisdom altered its method and spoke of espial and discovery” (65).
All throughout Chapter 5, James Vane has demonstrated his love, affection, and care for his sister, Sibyl Vane. He has especially shown an interest with Dorian Gray, and Gray’s interest with Sibyl. Although both James’ mother and sister reassure him that Gray is a gentleman, James decides to continue to have the “if he ever does you any wrong, I shall kill him” (73), mentality. This mentality of James’ may have developed from a question that lingered in his heart for years, whether his parents were married or not. Mrs. Vane defended James’ father as a “gentleman” (75), after James accused him of being a “scoundrel” (75). This may very well be the reason as to why James is so over protective.
“You must admit, Harry, that women give to men the very gold of their lives” (83).
Dorian Gray has found love, and this love is causing Dorian to realize that Lord Henry has been feeding him information that is not worth following: “When I am with her, I regret all that you have taught me. I become different from what you have known me to be […] makes me forget you and all your wrong, fascinating, poisonous, delightful theories” (82). This was not in accordance to Lord Henry’s plan of making Dorian Gray absolutely fascinated with him. In the quote above, it also shows how different Dorian and Harry are because Dorian previously described women as “a decorative sex. They never have anything to say, but they say it charmingly. Women represent the triumph of matter over mind” (51).
Querulously
–adjective
1. full of complaints; complaining.
2. characterized by or uttered in complaint; peevish: a querulous tone; constant querulous reminders of things to be done.
“’I don’t know how we could manage without him,’ answered the elder woman, querulously” (64).
Espial
–noun
1. the act of spying.
2. the act of keeping watch; observation.
“Then Wisdom altered its method and spoke of espial and discovery” (65).
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Dorian Gray Chpt 4
“You filled me with a wild desire to know everything about life. For days after I met you, something seemed to throb in my veins” (Wilde 52).
What Basil was afraid would happen is happening, and what Lord Henry wanted to happen is happening. The quote above is a description of the influence that Lord Henry has over Dorian Gray and his life. In the paragraph following this quote, Dorian describes how he used to view life and then describes how Lord Henry taught him to look at life. Dorian even quotes things that Lord Henry has previously said: “I felt that this grey, monstrous London of ours, with its myriads of people, its sordid sinners, and its splendid sins, as you once phrased” (52). If Lord Henry has the type of influence on Dorian that Basil suspects, this is going to lead to something disastrous: “You have a curious influence over me” (56).
“That is the reason, I suppose, that you never dine with me now. I thought you must have some curious romance on hand. You have; but it is not quite what I expected” (58).
This quote above is an example of the homosexual undertone given by author Oscar Wilde. Previously before this quote, Dorian Gray is explaining to Lord Henry his love and desire for Sibyl Vane. Dorian also describes the influence that Sibyl has on his life: “Sibyl is the only thing I care about […] from her little head to her little feet, she is absolutely and entirely divine” (58). This was a sort of reality check to Lord Henry because he is realizing that being Dorian’s inspiration is not going to be as easy as he expected. As for the homosexual undertone, Lord Henry is eluding to the fact that he is somewhat jealous of this relationship forming between Dorian and Sibyl.
Aphorism
–noun
a terse saying embodying a general truth, or astute observation, as “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” (Lord Acton).
“That is one of your aphorisms” (51).
Labyrinth
–noun
1. an intricate combination of paths or passages in which it is difficult to find one's way or to reach the exit.
2. a maze of paths bordered by high hedges, as in a park or garden, for the amusement of those who search for a way out.
“but I went out and wandered eastward, soon losing my way in a labyrinth of grimy streets and black, grassless squares” (52).
What Basil was afraid would happen is happening, and what Lord Henry wanted to happen is happening. The quote above is a description of the influence that Lord Henry has over Dorian Gray and his life. In the paragraph following this quote, Dorian describes how he used to view life and then describes how Lord Henry taught him to look at life. Dorian even quotes things that Lord Henry has previously said: “I felt that this grey, monstrous London of ours, with its myriads of people, its sordid sinners, and its splendid sins, as you once phrased” (52). If Lord Henry has the type of influence on Dorian that Basil suspects, this is going to lead to something disastrous: “You have a curious influence over me” (56).
“That is the reason, I suppose, that you never dine with me now. I thought you must have some curious romance on hand. You have; but it is not quite what I expected” (58).
This quote above is an example of the homosexual undertone given by author Oscar Wilde. Previously before this quote, Dorian Gray is explaining to Lord Henry his love and desire for Sibyl Vane. Dorian also describes the influence that Sibyl has on his life: “Sibyl is the only thing I care about […] from her little head to her little feet, she is absolutely and entirely divine” (58). This was a sort of reality check to Lord Henry because he is realizing that being Dorian’s inspiration is not going to be as easy as he expected. As for the homosexual undertone, Lord Henry is eluding to the fact that he is somewhat jealous of this relationship forming between Dorian and Sibyl.
Aphorism
–noun
a terse saying embodying a general truth, or astute observation, as “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” (Lord Acton).
“That is one of your aphorisms” (51).
Labyrinth
–noun
1. an intricate combination of paths or passages in which it is difficult to find one's way or to reach the exit.
2. a maze of paths bordered by high hedges, as in a park or garden, for the amusement of those who search for a way out.
“but I went out and wandered eastward, soon losing my way in a labyrinth of grimy streets and black, grassless squares” (52).
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Dorian Gray Chpt 3
“Yes, he would try to be to Dorian Gray what, without knowing it, the lad was to the painter who had fashioned the wonderful portrait” (40).
By the way Basil describes the portrait of Dorian Gray, it is evident the influence that Gray has left on Basil’s life: “Some subtle influence passed from him to me, and for the first time in my life I saw in the plain woodland the wonder I had always looked for, and always missed”(12). Lord Henry’s wish is for himself to have the same influence on Dorian Gray. Basil is under the impression that Lord Henry is a bad influence upon everyone that he meets. That means that if Lord Henry influences Dorian Gray, Dorian Gray would be influencing Basil in a negative manner.
“As he was passing out of the door, Dorian Gray touched him on the arm. ‘Let me come with you,’ he murmured” (47).
Previously Basil practically begged Dorian Gray to not go out to lunch with Lord Henry and Gray refused to not attend. Now, without even being asked to, Gray is standing up Basil because he desires to be with Lord Henry. This can be the beginning of something very bad because what Lord Henry wanted was actually going to happen. And as Basil said before, “He has a very bad influence over all his friends, with the single exception of myself”(19).
Keen
–adjective, -er, -est.
1. finely sharpened, as an edge; so shaped as to cut or pierce substances readily: a keen razor.
2. sharp, piercing, or biting: a keen wind; keen satire.
3. characterized by strength and distinctness of perception; extremely sensitive or responsive: keen eyes; keen ears.
4. having or showing great mental penetration or acumen: keen reasoning; a keen mind.
5. animated by or showing strong feeling or desire: keen competition.
6. intense, as feeling or desire: keen ambition; keen jealousy.
7. eager; interested; enthusiastic (often fol. by about, on, etc., or an infinitive): She is really keen on going swimming.
8. Slang. great; wonderful; marvelous.
“seemed to give his wit keenness, and to lend color to his imagination”(45).
Quail
–noun, plural quails, (especially collectively ) quail.
1.a small, migratory, gallinaceous game bird, Coturnix coturnix, of the Old World.
2.any of several other birds of the genus Coturnix and allied genera.
3. any of various New World gallinaceous game birds of the genus Colinus and allied genera, esp. the bobwhite.
4. Slang. a woman or girl.
“helping himself to some quail”(41).
By the way Basil describes the portrait of Dorian Gray, it is evident the influence that Gray has left on Basil’s life: “Some subtle influence passed from him to me, and for the first time in my life I saw in the plain woodland the wonder I had always looked for, and always missed”(12). Lord Henry’s wish is for himself to have the same influence on Dorian Gray. Basil is under the impression that Lord Henry is a bad influence upon everyone that he meets. That means that if Lord Henry influences Dorian Gray, Dorian Gray would be influencing Basil in a negative manner.
“As he was passing out of the door, Dorian Gray touched him on the arm. ‘Let me come with you,’ he murmured” (47).
Previously Basil practically begged Dorian Gray to not go out to lunch with Lord Henry and Gray refused to not attend. Now, without even being asked to, Gray is standing up Basil because he desires to be with Lord Henry. This can be the beginning of something very bad because what Lord Henry wanted was actually going to happen. And as Basil said before, “He has a very bad influence over all his friends, with the single exception of myself”(19).
Keen
–adjective, -er, -est.
1. finely sharpened, as an edge; so shaped as to cut or pierce substances readily: a keen razor.
2. sharp, piercing, or biting: a keen wind; keen satire.
3. characterized by strength and distinctness of perception; extremely sensitive or responsive: keen eyes; keen ears.
4. having or showing great mental penetration or acumen: keen reasoning; a keen mind.
5. animated by or showing strong feeling or desire: keen competition.
6. intense, as feeling or desire: keen ambition; keen jealousy.
7. eager; interested; enthusiastic (often fol. by about, on, etc., or an infinitive): She is really keen on going swimming.
8. Slang. great; wonderful; marvelous.
“seemed to give his wit keenness, and to lend color to his imagination”(45).
Quail
–noun, plural quails, (especially collectively ) quail.
1.a small, migratory, gallinaceous game bird, Coturnix coturnix, of the Old World.
2.any of several other birds of the genus Coturnix and allied genera.
3. any of various New World gallinaceous game birds of the genus Colinus and allied genera, esp. the bobwhite.
4. Slang. a woman or girl.
“helping himself to some quail”(41).
Dorian Gray Chpts 1 and 2
“Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter. The sitter is merely the accident, the occasion” (Wilde 7).
Basil Hallward does not want his painting of Dorian Gray to be shown to the public for it will reveal too much about himself. The quote above beautifully explains why Dorian Gray’s portrait has so much meaning. The portrait has nothing to do with Dorian Gray, but more about Basil and his life: “We live in an age when men treat art as if it were meant to be a form of autobiography”(13).
“I choose my friends for their good looks, my acquaintances for their good characters, and my enemies for the good intellects”(10).
Lord Henry and Dorian Gray seem to emphasize the importance of youth thus far in the novel. Lord Henry seems to have made a lasting impression on Dorian Gray because Gray has become very fond of him. Gray refuses to be a sitter without the company of Lord Henry and because of this Basil is not very happy. Lord Henry influenced Gray and this is evident when Gray says, “when one loses one’s good looks, whatever they may be, one loses everything […] youth is the only thing worth having” (28-29).
“But beauty, real beauty, ends where an intellectual expression begins” (5).
Monotonous
–adjective
1. lacking in variety; tediously unvarying: the monotonous flat scenery.
2. characterizing a sound continuing on one note.
3. having very little inflection; limited to a narrow pitch range.
"The sullen murmur of the bees shouldering their way through the long unmown grass, or circling with monotonous insistence round the dusty gilt horns of the straggling woodbine, seemed to make the stillness more oppressive" (1).
Languor
–noun
1. lack of energy or vitality; sluggishness.
2. lack of spirit or interest; listlessness; stagnation.
3. physical weakness or faintness.
4. emotional softness or tenderness.
"looking at him with his dreamy, languorous eyes"(22).
Monday, January 5, 2009
Chpt 23 - 24
“But, throughout it all, and through the whole discourse, there had been a certain deep, sad undertone of pathos, which could not be interpreted otherwise than as the natural regret of one soon to pass away” (222).
Dimmesdale’s sermon was phenomenal, and the audience was clearly touched by the speech. There is one thing though that was evident throughout the sermon; Dimmesdale evoked an emotional response from the crowd that led them to wonder what caused him to get so emotional and deep. It was seen as the last confession from someone whose time was going to end. This bothered the crowd because the death of Dimmesdale would be like the death of a saint.
“Pearl kissed his lips. A spell was broken. The great scene of grief, in which the wild infant bore a part, had developed all her sympathies; and as her tears fell upon her father’s cheek, they were the pledge that she would grow up amid human joy and sorrow, nor forever do battle with the world, but be a woman in it” (229).
While they were in the forest, Dimmesdale kissed Pearl on the forehead, and Pearl immediately washed it off because Dimmesdale was not paying her any attention in public. Later after that in the market place, Pearl developed an interest as to why Dimmesdale was neglecting her in the sunlight. Here, Dimmesdale announced and confessed to everyone the burden that lived within him, and his confession allowed Pearl to recognize Dimmesdale and show him affection.
Demeanor
–noun
1.conduct; behavior; deportment.
2.facial appearance; mien.
“in the appearance and demeanor of the old man known as Roger Chillingworth”(231).
Countenance
–noun
1.appearance, esp. the look or expression of the face: a sad countenance.
2.the face; visage.
3. calm facial expression; composure.
4. approval or favor; encouragement; moral support.
5. Obsolete. bearing; behavior.
“Old Roger Chillingworth knelt down beside him, with a blank, dull countenance, out of which the life seemed to have departed” (228).
Dimmesdale’s sermon was phenomenal, and the audience was clearly touched by the speech. There is one thing though that was evident throughout the sermon; Dimmesdale evoked an emotional response from the crowd that led them to wonder what caused him to get so emotional and deep. It was seen as the last confession from someone whose time was going to end. This bothered the crowd because the death of Dimmesdale would be like the death of a saint.
“Pearl kissed his lips. A spell was broken. The great scene of grief, in which the wild infant bore a part, had developed all her sympathies; and as her tears fell upon her father’s cheek, they were the pledge that she would grow up amid human joy and sorrow, nor forever do battle with the world, but be a woman in it” (229).
While they were in the forest, Dimmesdale kissed Pearl on the forehead, and Pearl immediately washed it off because Dimmesdale was not paying her any attention in public. Later after that in the market place, Pearl developed an interest as to why Dimmesdale was neglecting her in the sunlight. Here, Dimmesdale announced and confessed to everyone the burden that lived within him, and his confession allowed Pearl to recognize Dimmesdale and show him affection.
Demeanor
–noun
1.conduct; behavior; deportment.
2.facial appearance; mien.
“in the appearance and demeanor of the old man known as Roger Chillingworth”(231).
Countenance
–noun
1.appearance, esp. the look or expression of the face: a sad countenance.
2.the face; visage.
3. calm facial expression; composure.
4. approval or favor; encouragement; moral support.
5. Obsolete. bearing; behavior.
“Old Roger Chillingworth knelt down beside him, with a blank, dull countenance, out of which the life seemed to have departed” (228).
Sunday, January 4, 2009
WINTER
Chapter 15
Roger Chillingworth:
Hester Prynne:
Pearl:
Chapter 16
Hester Prynne:
Chapter 17
Dimmesdale – nervous, excited, and anxious to meet Pearl
Pearl = mad that Hester took off her scarlet letter and refuses to obey her until she puts it back on
Chapter 20
Dimmesdale = happy he gets to preach the Election Sermon– 193
Hester has connections – they get to leave to Europe soon
CHANGE:
Afraid he made a deal with the devil while talking to the Mistress Hibbins
Breaks it off with Chillingworth
Chapter 21
Market place
Pearl = confused as to why Dimmesdale doesn’t acknowledge them in the daylight
Chapter 22
Others are beginning to realize the change in Dimmesdale, including Hester
Pearl doesn’t even recognize Dimmesdale
Hibbins talks to Hester
Hester listens to Dimmesdale’s speech
Pearl receives a message that should be given to her mother
Message is given to Hester and everyone is staring at her and her scarlet letter
Roger Chillingworth:
- “A deformed old figure” (158).
- “He needed to bask himself in that smile, he said, in order that the chill of so many lonely hours among his books might be taken off the scholar’s heart.” (159).
- “And it seemed a fouler offence committed by Roger Chillingworth, than any which had since been done him, that, in the time when her heart grew no better, he had persuaded her to fancy herself happy by his side” (159).
Hester Prynne:
- “ ‘Be it sin or no,’ said Hester Prynne, bitterly as she still gazed after him, ‘I hate the man!’ “(159).
- “ ‘He betrayed me! He has done me worse wrong that I did him!” ‘(159).
- “She felt a morbid desire to ascertain the point” (161).
- “In all the seven bygone years, Hester Prynne had never before been false to the symbol on her bosom” (163).
- Contemplative about Pearl and her purpose in the world
Pearl:
- “She had flirted fancifully with her own image in a pool of water, beckoning the phantom forth, and – as it declined to venture – seeking a passage, for herself into its sphere of impalpable earth and unattainable sky” (160).
- “Displayed remarkable dexterity in pelting them” (160).
- “Had been hit by a pebble, and fluttered away with a broken wing. But then the elf-child sighed, and gave up her sport; because it grieved her to have done harm to a little being that was as wild as the sea-breeze, or as wild as Pearl herself” (160).
- “Even as if the one only thing for which she had been sent into the world was to make out its hidden import” (161).
- “ ‘It is for the same reason that the minister keeps his hand over his heart!’ “(161).
- “Remarkable precocity and acuteness, might already have approached the age when she could be made a friend” (162).
- “The evil which she inherited from her mother must be great indeed, if a noble woman do not grow out of this elfish child.” (163).
- Pearl developed a sudden interest in the reason why her mother bears the scarlet letter.
Chapter 16
Hester Prynne:
- “Hester Prynne remained constant in her resolve to make known to Mr. Dimmesdale, at whatever risk of present pain or ulterior consequences, the true character of the man who had crept into his intimacy” (164).
- “Hester never thought of meeting him in any narrower privacy than beneath the open sky” (165).
- Reasons why:
- “she dreaded the secret or undisguised interference of old Roger Chillingworth”
- “conscious heart imputed suspicion where none could have been felt”
- “both the minister and she would need the whole wide world to breathe in”
- “ ‘The sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something on your bosom’ “(165).
- “She wanted – what some people want throughout life – a grief that should deeply touch her, and thus humanize and make her capable of sympathy” (166).
- “ ‘Once in my life I met the Black Man! […] This scarlet letter is his mark!’ “(168)
- “Why dost thou smile so at me? Inquited Hester, troubled at the expression of his eyes. “Art thou like the Black Man, that haunts the forest round about us? Hast thou enticed me into a bond that will prove the ruin of my soul?” (72).
- “Pearl resembled the brook, inasmuch as the current of her life gushed from a well-spring as mysterious, and had flowed through scenes shadowed as heavily with gloom” (169).
- Pearl is learning how to put two and two together: obtaining the ability to relate the her mother and the minister who has his hand over his chest
- “To Hester’s eye, the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale exhibited no symptom of positive and vivacious suffering, except that, as little Pearl had remarked, he kept his hand over his heart” (170).
Chapter 17
- “It was no wonder that they thus questioned one another’s actual and bodily existence, and even doubted of their own” (171).
- Hester and Dimmesdale meet
- Both surprised to see each other
- “Each a ghost, and awe-stricken at the other ghost!” (171).
- “They now felt themselves, at least, inhabitants of the same sphere” (171).
- Conversation at first – very awkward
Dimmesdale is incapable of forgiving himself
Chapter 18
· Previously last chapter, Hester brought up the idea of them moving together abroad
Chapter 19
Pearl shares some of Dimmesdale’s features; he’s paranoid about this and afraid that others might notice the resemblance – page 186
- Pages 172 – 173
- Fact that people look up to him makes him feel worse
- “ ‘ Happy are you, Hester, that wear the scarlet letter openly upon your bosom! Mine burns in secret!’ “(173).
- Feels as if he has no one to be open with – Hester offers her friendship
- “Thou hast long had such an enemy, and dwellest with him, under the same roof!” (173).
- Hester confesses to Dimmesdale the intentions of Chillingworth
- Telling Dimmesdale made Hester feel awful
- Dimmesdale suspected it
- Begins to blame Hester – “tho art accountable for this! I cannot forgive thee!” (175).
- Dimmesdale then gets nervous; afraid of what Chillingworth might do next
- 176 – 179
Chapter 18
· Previously last chapter, Hester brought up the idea of them moving together abroad
- In this chapter, Dimmesdale agrees.
- Dimmesdale is once again happy – page 182
- Worries if Pearl will approve of him – Hester is confident that she will
- At the beginning of the book Hester was portrayed as very beautiful while everyone looked down upon her
- Once everyone started to like her again, she was portrayed as ugly
- Here, in this scene, Hester puts down her hair and is once again seen as beautiful – pages 182-183
Chapter 19
Pearl shares some of Dimmesdale’s features; he’s paranoid about this and afraid that others might notice the resemblance – page 186
Dimmesdale – nervous, excited, and anxious to meet Pearl
- “How my heart dreads this interview, and yearns for it!” (186).
- Hester is saddened once she puts her scarlet letter back on while Pearl is once again happy
- Pearl will only like Dimmesdale if he keeps his hand over his heart
- Hester thinks this is foolish
- Dimmesdale gives her a kiss on the forehead and Pearl washes it off
- Pearl’s reason for acting this way – feels as if her parents are ashamed of her if Hester doesn’t wear her scarlet letter and if Dimmesdale doesn’t keep his hand over his heart
- Pages 188 – 191
Chapter 20
Dimmesdale = happy he gets to preach the Election Sermon– 193
Hester has connections – they get to leave to Europe soon
CHANGE:
- “Not the less, however, came this importunately obtrusive sense of change” (194).
- “I am not the man for who you take me!”
- Page 195
Upon arrival, everything seems different to Dimmesdale, including himself
Dimmesdale is definitely not himself for example:
- Encounter with the eldest female member of his church - 196
- “and his encounter with old Mistress Hibbins, if it were a real incident, did but show his sympathy and fellowship with wicked mortals, and the world of perverted spirits” (199).
- “the physician knew then, that, in the minister’s regard, he was no longer a trusted friend, but his bitterest enemy” (201).
Chapter 21
Market place
- Hester is excited that it’s not her being acknowledged
- New beginning for her
- “it might be, on this one day, that there was an expression unseen before, nor, indeed, vivid enough to be detected now” (203).
- “but he will not greet thee to-day; nor must thou greet him” (205).
- “will he hold out both his hands to me, as when thou ledst me to him from the brook-side?” (205).
- “what a strange, sad man is he!” (205).
- “the physician, was seen to enter the market-place, in close and familiar talk with the commander of the questionable vessel” (209).
Chapter 22
Others are beginning to realize the change in Dimmesdale, including Hester
- “Hester Prynne, gazing steadfastly at the clergyman, felt a dreary influence come over he, but wherefore or whence she knew not; unless that he seemed so remote from her own sphere, and utterly beyond her reach” (214).
- “Mother […] was that the same minister that kissed me by the brook?”(215).
- Says that everyone will soon know about Dimmesdale’s sin
- “Thou thyself wilt see it, one time or another” (217).
- “an irresistible feeling kept Hester near the spot” (217).
- “Then tell her that I spake again with the black-a-visage, hump-shouldered old doctor, and he engages to bring his friend, the gentleman she wots of, aboard with him. So let thy mother take no though, save for herself and thee” ( 220).
- Back flashes – memories of when all eyes were on her
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