The Catcher in the Rye {blog four}

To our unfortunate disproval, Holden still is complaining about how things make him mad and upset him because they aren’t the way he likes them to be. His next adventure is to a movie theater after making plans to meet up with an old friend named Carl Luce. While at the movie theater he remembers the time when he and Allie would go to see the same shows, and it still sounds like he cannot let go of his brother, as if maybe if he keeps bringing him up he will magically come back. Holden’s mind then travels to the army and he says that he cannot ever be a part of the army for what his brother D.B told him. I think that again Holden is scared of change in this situation, because ultimately he would have to change his entire life, no more fancy school, no more lounging around and talking about others, and no more support from his parents (financially speaking).

Holden meets up with his friend Carl Luce and talks to him about everything that involves sex. To this Carl guy he seems immature to be asking all these inappropriate questions and quickly gets annoyed so he leaves. Even though this book is a coming of age story, it comes later in the novel than sooner and this just proves my point.

He finally decides to go home to get more money after trying to drink himself to death. Holden sneaks into his house to meet Phoebe because his parents are still unaware of the fact that their son had just been kicked out of Pencey Prep a week earlier. Phoebe is sleeping when Holden arrives home and this is a very important part of the book because of what Holden says about it, “It’s funny. You take adults, they look lousy while they sleep and they have their mouths way open, but kids don’t. Kids look alright. They can even have spit all over their pillow and they still look alright.” (p.159) This just shows that Holden is scared of that transition to adulthood and that children are so innocent and have nothing in the world to worry about. I think that the main reason that Holden is always so upset and mad is that children are supposed to be worry free and with Allie, that wasn’t the case. He is mad that Allie’s life was cut short before he could become an adult and face the reality of actual life.

Once Holden wakes up his sister, they make small talk but something is really bothering him and Phoebe can sense it. They talk about school and Holden begins to rant about all the things that he hates, and that just pisses off his sister because she doesn’t understand what he can like if he is constantly talking about all these things that he dislikes. His mind wanders and these are his next words, “You know whtat I’d like to be? I mean if I had my goddam choice?... I thought it was ‘if a body catch a body’, anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye an all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody’s around-nobody big, I mean- except me. And I’m standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. …I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That’s all I’d do all day. I’d be the catcher in the rye and all.”

With that quote in mind we can finish up the meaning behind this whole story. Like I said Holden is scared of things that could happen that he doesn’t like and that is why he wants to be “the catcher in the rye”, because he can prevent death, evil and simply bad things from happening. That way he can disallow other people from feeling the same pain that he felt when Allie died. That is what I think of the whole thing.

The Catcher in the Rye {blog 3}

The next part of The Catcher in the Rye that I have read just bothers me. Holden seems to have to tell us his opinion about everything, weather he hates something, loves something, or just can’t stand something. Honestly, I find this to be rather annoying as it seems like the end of every paragraph ends with his hating or loving something. Another flaw that I find in his character is the fact that he is always talking about doing something then never follows through with it. For example, when he hires the prostitute named Sunny, he tells us that he is a virgin and would be more than happy to have sex but hasn’t had the perfect opportunity to yet. But soon enough he is making up excuse after excuse why he cannot have sex with this lady and again loses another opportunity to do so. “I don’t feel much like myself tonight. I’ve had a rough night. Honest to God. I’ll pay you and all, but do you mind if we don’t do it? Do you mind very much? ... The thing is, I had an operation very recently.” (Page 96) This guy is just always making up excuse after excuse for not wanting to have sex, not wanting to eat breakfast, not wanting to call his parents… just so many stupid things, and I think that is why I hate this book!

Continuing on with Holden’s story… he decides to finally call a girl to hang out with, her name is Sally Hayes. What is really sad about this is that he doesn’t really even like this Sally girl, but only likes her for her good looks supposedly. I think he confuses what he feels as love for just having the hots for someone. “Finally, old Sally started coming up the stairs, and I started down to meet her. She looked terrific. She really did. She had on this black coat and sort of a black beret. She hardly ever wore a hat, but that beret looked nice. The funny part is, I felt like marrying her the minute I saw her. I’m crazy. I didn’t even like her much, and yet all of a sudden I felt like I was in love with her and wanted to marry her.” (Page 124) Ironically enough, his whole date backfires when some guy Sally knows comes to talk to her and pretty much steals her away the rest of the night. I thought that was pretty darn funny. Eventually he just ends up ruining the whole date when he starts talking about what he would love to do. So then he calls Jane, his childhood sweetheart. IN my honest opinion, Holden is just a player that doesn’t care much about what girls feel about him; rather that he has an endless supply of them. But isn’t that like most boys today? What bothers me most about Holden is that the people that probably care about him the most (i.e. his family) are the people that he cares the least about, he just throws them to the curb and can handle living away from them for so long only feeding them nothing but lies.

 

The Catcher in the Rye {blog 2}

The next section of the book that I read tells us a lot more about the main character Holden. His kid brother Allie, died of leukemia a couple years before the story took place. He writes a composition about Allie’s baseball glove. I think that the death of Holden’s brother was very substantial in meaning to the way that Holden portrays himself today. He tells us that Allie was the most intelligent person among his family. Allie is described as being extremely sweet and innocent, with the brightest red hair imaginable. Holden is obviously still feeling pain about the fact that he could not help his brother. I think that unconsciously Holden believes that he let his brother die. In other words he wasn’t able to save him. With all that in mind, I believe that Holden gives no effort in school or his personal life because he thinks that were all dying anyway so why try. Unfortunately that is a terrible way to think, especially because Holden has so much potential to be great, he just does not apply his skills.
Moving on to a happier subject… Holden’s friends aren’t much to be admired. Ackley sounds like a disgusting fellow with an ego as big as he is (that is pretty darn big!). Almost all the boys there talk about how they supposedly hook up with all these girls, and Holden is just in awe of how many of these people probably have never even spoken to a lady let alone had sex with one. It’s actually quite funny how this story resembles real life even today, this just shows that men have not changed that much. However, Holden is not completely incapable of loving another girl. Jane Gallagher is one of his closest girlfriends and remembers the time when he was always happy with her and was always there to comfort her. I think that her presence is what kept Holden from isolating himself completely after his brother died. Continuing on, Holden returns to his hotel room after going to a club late in the night. The elevator operator offers him a prostitute for five dollars. He takes the offer and returns to his room.
 I believe that Holden wants to live two separate lives. One where he can live freely and do whatever he pleases, such as hiring a prostitute, but that thought scares him and that is ultimately why he backs out of the deal. And another life where he is sheltered and raised by his parents, where he doesn’t have to worry about bad things happening to him. On the other hand, the second life scares him even more than the first because of what happened to his brother Allie. The fact that not everything can be controlled and not every ending can be happy.

Catcher in the Rye {1}

 

The Catcher in the Rye starts with the voice of one main character, Holden Caulfield. His introduction tells us that he had a crappy childhood with parents that sounded like they weren’t too fond of him, or at least didn’t care enough to pay attention to him. “If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, what my lousy childhood was like and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me.” (pg. 1) Honestly, he doesn’t sound all that enthusiastic to be in the book so far and he only sounds remotely happy when speaking about his brother D.B.

The plot continues with Holden informing us that he attended one of those rich preppy schools named, Pencey Prep. He went to some of the football games and such but I don’t think he was one of the kids that actually enjoyed them. Holden wasn’t too thrilled that you weren’t allowed to bring girls with you either. “There were never many girls at all at the football games. Only seniors were allowed to bring girls with them. It was a terrible school, no matter how you looked at it.” (pg. 3) Unfortunately, he is kicked out of this school because he was failing four classes. Frankly, I don’t think he even cared much about this. As he is leaving he receives a letter from his history teacher telling him that he wants to have a chat with him.
Once he gets to Mr. Thurmer’s (history teacher) house, the two men get to talking about Holden’s grades. His teacher is very disappointed in the fact that Holden seems to not try what so ever with his grades. It just so happens that a recent test turned into his class has had extremely poor results and I think this teacher is so mad that he actually begins to joke about the matter. “Your essay, shall we say ends there, he said this in a very sarcastic voice. You wouldn’t think such an old guy would be sarcastic at all.” (pg. 12)
Holden continues on about his true feelings for this teacher of his. He thinks that he is stuck up and says the stupidest most offensive things possible. “After I shut the door and started back to the living room, he yelled something at me, but I couldn’t exactly hear him. I’m pretty sure he yelled “good luck!” at me. I hope not. I hope to hell not. I’d never yell “good luck!” at anybody. It sounds terrible, when you think about it.” (pg. 16)

Holden lets us know that he is proud of being a good liar, and if you’re proud of something like that it seems to me then that you must practice that skill a lot. His character in general resembles a person who wants to just get by in life and would rather take the short cut to finish something than work hard at it. Unfortunately that lifestyle won’t really lead you anywhere so let’s hope this guy can get his head on straight.

1984 {blog three}

The next part of 1984 is indeed very interesting. We continue to expand our knowledge about the Party and Winston himself. Winston now has a “girlfriend” whose name is Julia. He is a lot older than her and because of the risk of the two of them being caught they cannot be seen talking together at first. The first time that Winston and Julia meet is in the middle of nowhere, where Julia suspects that there are no government spies and no hidden telescreens. The two of them have sex in the forest and Winston tells her that he is happy that she is a whore and has sex all the time. “Listen. The more men you’ve had, the more I love you. Do you understand that?” I think that Winston doesn’t see it so much as that this girl is obviously experienced, but the fact that there are other men out there just like him wanting nothing more in the world to rebel against the Party. Throughout the next couple months, Winston and Julia only exchange glances when they pass each other on the sidewalks because it is still too dangerous for them to be “passionate” in public.

Winston soon gets fed up that he cannot spend time with Julia so he rents a room above Mr. Carrington’s shop. The two of them meet whenever possible to do what they do best. Julia and Winston talk about the growing power of the Party. I believe that the citizens in general are given no choice but to believe in the crap that government feeds them, however it seems that the only way to defeat the Party would be to have all the conscious minded citizens stand up in what they believed in. It’s obvious that Winston and Julia aren’t the only two people who think that their country is screwed up.

Continuing on with what I last said, Winston is confronted by a man named O’Brian. We soon find out that O’Brian is also against the actions of the party and he isn’t the only one. He informs Winston that there are thousands more just like them, who are all waiting to strike. Winston and Julia are initiated into the brotherhood of rebellion and now have no option of turning back.

We learn more about how gullible the citizens of Oceania really are. The country switches allies and enemies in the war so therefore they obviously had to go back and once again rewrite history. But the change was made during the middle of a speech, so half of the information was based on the truth and the other half was what was made up, and even then these citizens are still so ignorant that they cannot pick up that something is wrong.

In chapter IX, Winston begins reading the book given to him by O’Brian. He discovers the true meanings of the Parties slogans, “WAR IS PEACE and IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH”.  It  is scary to think that any government at any given time can conjure up information to make their followers believe that they are all that matters in life, which in turn gives them an endless supply of power.

1984 {blog two}

              The next section of the book that I have read concerns Winston’s beliefs on how he thinks the government can be over run. From chapter six, he tells us that he hired a prostitute to well you know… Anyway he believes that these women are the lowest form of life that the society has to deal with. Essentially they follow none of the rules that the rest of the society has to abide by and the actual number of “proles” as they call them is astonishing. Winston thinks that if the Party were to be overrun, it would have to be done by these people. “If there was hope, it must lie in the proles, because only there, in those swarming disregarded masses, eighty-five per cent of the population of Oceania, could the force to destroy the Party ever be generated.” (pg. 77)
            We know that Winston’s job for the Party is to pretty much rewrite history to make it seem as though the government has made Oceania a wonderful place to live, free of enemies, crime, poverty, and hunger. But we have learned of it to be the exact opposite, with the electricity almost never working, people going hungry in the streets and their houses are crumbling right before their eyes. Everything that is told to the citizens sounds legitimate because everyone thinks that if the records show this as the truth than all be! It must be right! However, Winston knows that history is a lie. Heck, he is one of the people rewriting it and actually conscientious about what he is doing. Even though he has to perform this task without questioning it, he believes that everything that he has done is just giving the party more power. “Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.” (pg.37)
               Going along with this last quote, Winston begins to read a child’s history book.  He is astonished at how the Party can manipulate the human mind just by telling people that something is the way it is because they say so. “In the end the Party would announce that two and two made five, and you would have to believe it. It was inevitable that they should make that claim sooner or later: the logic of their position demanded it. Not merely the validity of experience, but the very existence of external reality was tacitly denied by their philosophy.”  (pg. 82) In my opinion, I think that Winston is not scared of the Party itself, but the unquestioned power it maintains. The power it has over all the citizens who just are going along for the ride. These people don’t question this power and this is one of the sole reasons that the Party has been so successful in controlling the population. And that is why Winston is terrified about the Party! Because there is nothing he can do to regain sanity in the world, at least not by himself and he doesn’t want to get caught trying. But it seems as though he isn’t the only one who is aware of this… and that gives him hope.

1984 {blog one}

                I want to first start off by saying that the novel 1984 is one of the strangest books that I have ever read. Not only is it terrifying that the author, George Orwell, sees that this is how the future portrays itself to him, but also the fact that this is actually somewhat possible. When I say that this type of society is possible, I more or less mean the government controlling every aspect of our lives. For example, this type of dictatorship was experimented in Germany and Russia and neither in my opinion were successful. However, the potential of this society being implemented into our American lifestyle is more than likely almost impossible, but it is still scary to think about.

                To begin with 1984, the main character Winston Smith is first shown to be rebellious compared to the abnormal standards of his society. He begins writing in a diary which we soon learn is very much illegal, even thinking about writing in a journal is illegal! I don’t know about you guys, but that seems a little bit insane to me! The narrator goes on to tell us more about the society itself. This country is completely controlled by a select group of people. A citizen’s life is carefully watched by a group named “Big Brother”. This security group, I am assuming was established to disallow any threats of rebellions against the government.

                This government style is extremely over reactive in the way it handles misdemeanors or small crimes as compared to the society we live in today. For example, our country handles enemies of the state by usually putting them in a high security prison. But here, you best not say anything that is offensive to the government or else you will be hung for public display. In 1984, the government seems to be handling everything with a sense of utter disgust and utmost authority.

                To continue on about Winston, he seems to fear all the power that the government is obtaining. Winston is scared to death that all the little things he has committed against the government will soon be uncovered and will be in some serious trouble.

                Another major issue talked about in this novel is the topic of sex. 1984’s political parties see it unnecessary to engage in the action and all Winston seems to think about is sex and all the things you can be punished with for doing it. I am not going to go into great detail about this, but it looks to me like the leaders of this society believe that they do not want their citizens to be able to be free in any way imaginable. That being free in itself is a crime and something as simple as sex can somehow overthrow the authority that they have gained.

                To conclude, 1984 is about a society that is completely controlled by the government. Everything you do, say, look at, even think of is monitored by the Big Brother program. Even though the main character of the novel, Winston Smith, is terrified of the power that his leaders have achieved, he cannot take any action in overthrowing them, at least not by himself. We are just going to have to keep reading to see what happens…

Twelfth Night ACT FOUR & FIVE

 

            Act four starts with much confusion between characters. First, Feste mistakes Sebastian as Cesario (Viola) “Will you make me believe that I am not sent for you?” (IV. i. 1-2), and of course Sebastian has no clue what is going on. He thinks everyone around him has gone mad, “Why there’s for thee, and there, and there! Are all the people mad?” (IV. i. 26-27) Then toby and Andrew enter the situation and only make things more confusing for Sebastian. As earlier said, Toby and Andrew said they would fight Cesario, and they kept their promise and attack Sebastian. The only thing is that Sebastian still has no clue what is going on so has no choice but to fight them back for his own personal safety. Luckily for him a nice lady comes along and rescues him. Olivia even mistakes Sebastian as Cesario and has him come back to her place to talk things out. “Go with me to my house, And hear thou there how many fruitless pranks this ruffian hath botched up, that thou thereby Mayst smile at this.” (IV. i. 54-57)

            While all this is happening Maria still isn’t done messing around with Malvolio. In act three, he was taken and forcefully put into a dark room because everyone thought he had gone mad for what he had dressed as in front of Olivia. So Maria now has Feste pretend to be a priest named Sir Topas and talk to Malvolio in his chamber and make it seem as though he really has gone mad. Malvolio says, “I am not mad, Sir Topas. I say to you this house is dark.” (IV. Ii. 41) Feste replies, “Madman, thou errest. I say there is no darkness but ignorance, in which thou art more puzzled than the Egyptians in their fog.” (Iv. ii. 42-45) I am thinking that Malvolio is just like what the in the French toast is happening to the world?! Sebastian is still walking around in a love daze probably thinking ‘how could this lady be in love with me? I just met her!’ “This in the air; that is the golorious sun; This pearl she gave me, I do feel’t and see’t; And though ‘tis wonder that enwraps me thus, Yet tis’ not madness.” (IV. Iii. 1-4)

            Everything comes to a conclusion in Act five. To start off, Antonio is discovered by his enemy Orsino and is brought in front of Viola who is disguised as Cesario at the moment. He mistakes Viola for Sebastian and starts yelling at him for denying knowing him and stealing his wallet. Viola is sooo confused with all this, “ But in conclusion put strange speech upon me. I know not what twas but distraction.” (V.i.67-68) Soon Olivia comes in thinking that Cesario is Sebastian whom she thought was Cesario and married him only moments earlier. Everybody now is baffled as both Viola and Sebastian enter the play. At first they don’t see one another but when their eyes meet, the twins cannot fathom that they are both alive and reuniting once again! They begin questioning each other, “My father had a mole upon his brow….. And so had mine.” (V.i.242-243)

            In the end, brother and sister are reunited, madmen are released, and true love is finally found. I believe that Viola ends up marrying Orsino and Sebastian stays married to Olivia. To be honest, this is one of the better plays that Shakespeare has composed, and I am glad to see that it end so happily.

Twelfth Night ACT THREE

Act three commences with the introduction of Cesario to Sir Toby and Sir Andrew. It is no surprise that the gentlemen sound to be drunk once again and begin to make an awkward conversation with Cesario. Toby says, “Taste your legs, sir; put them to motion.” (III.i.79) Viola misunderstands him in assuming they must be crazy, “My legs do better understand me, sir, than I understand what you mean by bidding me taste my legs.” (III.i. 80-82) Its obvious she wants to get away from these idiots and soon enough her wish is granted.

 Olivia comes to her, I mean his rescue. However…. things get pretty strange between these two ladies. Olivia says, “Let the garden door be shut, and leave me to my hearing. Give me your hand, sir.” (III.i.94-96) I can only imagine what Viola [still disguised as Cesario] is thinking. Olivia babbles on about how she has fallen in love with Cesario and cannot live without him. “Enough is shown; a cypress, not a bosom, Hides my heart. So, let me hear you speak.” (III.i. 122-123) Viola is blindsided by Olivia’s statement so on the spot she goes about telling her, “I have one heart, one bosom, and one truth, And that no woman has; nor never none Shall mistress be of it, save I alone.” (III.i. 159-161) In my opinion that was the best thing Viola could have told her, maybe to lessen the pain of being rejected.

Moving onto scene two, Sir Andrew decides that he wants to leave because he figured it out that Olivia isn’t going to start loving him anytime soon. FINALLY!! “No, faith, I’ll not stay a jot longer… Marry, I saw your niece do more favors to the Courts servingman than ever she bestowed upon me. I saw’t I’ th’ orchard.” (III.ii. 1, 5-8) Despite Sir Andrews own personal feeling, Sir Toby wants to keep him around just so he can keep on spending his money. Soon Maria comes into the play once again and informs us that because of the letter she wrote to Malvolio he is acting like a complete idiot. “If you desire the spleen, and will laugh your selves into stitches, follow me. Yond gull Malvolio is turned heathen, a very renegado; for there is no Christian that ever means to be saved by believing rightly can ever believe such impossible passages of grossness. He’s in yellow stockings.” (III. Ii. 68- 73) There plan worked in the long run, but honestly this Malvolio guy must be pretty delusional to think that such a nice lady would stoop down to his level and actually have feelings for him.. what a buffoon!

In the next seen we hear that Antonio and Sebastian have finally made it to Illyria. Sebastian thanks Antonio for being such a grand friend. And oddly enough, Antonio doesn’t think that following his friend there was enough, so he just gives him his wallet and tells him to buy stuff. Let me just say here that I wish Antonio and I were friends!

Finally in scene four of act three, things start to come together. Malvolio goes about telling Olivia that he is wearing his ridiculous outfit because she had said it in her letter (which she still has no idea about). “Remember who commended thy yellow stockings…. And wished to see thee cross gartered.” (III. iv. 50, 52) Olivia thinks this guy has gone mad and has him locked up in some padded room I believe. Olivia sends for Cesario and is met with once again another letter, this time for Ceasio challenging him to a duel with Sir Andrew. Sir toby then gets in the middle of this “fake fight” and makes each opponent believe that the other is a great swordsman. Olivia loves Cesario too much to see him get hurt so she gives him a locket with a picture of her inside. How cheesy is that?!

Then only to make things more confusing, Antonio arrives and mistakes Cesario (Viola) as her brother Sebastian. Once Antonio is seen by the guards he is arrested and taken away as Viola goes off in search for her brother Sebastian, leaving everybody confused. Hopefully this play will end just as good as its movie counterpart, “She’s the Man”. J

Twelfth Night ACT TWO

              Act two starts with the introduction of a new character, one who is related to a main character, and whose key appearance could just spell out trouble for the rest of the play. His name is Sebastian, and yes to answer your question, he is the undead brother to Viola. Sebastian wound up washing unto the seacoast far from Viola. He too has lost all hope that his twin sister is still alive (little to his knowledge)  and tells Antonio, his rescuer, that he will be leaving to go on dangerous journeys that will hopefully allow him to process all that has happened to him. “Therefore I shall crave of your leave, that I may bear my evils alone.” (II.i.5-6) After much argument, Sebastian persuades Antonio not to accompany him on his leave, “If you will not undo what you have done, that is, kill him whom you have recovered, desire is not. Fare ye well at once.” (II.i.37-39) However, Antonio cannot just let this guy go, so he faces his fears of being seen by his enemies in Orsino’s court and goes after Sebastian. “I have many enemies in Orsino’s court, Else would I very shortly see thee there. But come what may, I do adore thee so That danger shall seem sport, and I will go.” (II.i.45-48)

                While Sebastian starts his trek to Orsino’s court, Viola has some adventurous moments of her own. When speaking to Malvolio, she discovers that Olivia has fallen in love with her, well in love with Cesario. “She loves me sure; the cunning of her passion Invites me with this churlish messenger.” (II.ii.21-22) Viola feels bad that she is eventually going to have to tell Olivia that her love is false and cannot be true, “Poor lady, she were better to love a dream.” (II.ii.26)

                In scene three, Sir Toby, Sir Andrew and Maria decide to play a prank on Malvolio for ruining their fun while drinking, “My masters are you mad? Or what are you? Have you no wit, manners, nor honesty, but to gabble like thinkers at this time of night?” (II.iii.86-89) Maria decides that because he is a puritan, he has a big ego of himself and will easily be fooled into thinking that Olivia sent him a love letter which will really be from the three hooligans.

                Continuing onto scene four, Orsino is once again thrust into his love for Olivia when listening to a love song. He tells Cesario to go talk to her once more, “Get thee to yond same sovereign cruelty. Tell her my love...” (II.iv.81-82) Honestly, I don’t understand why he keeps trying to go after this girl… I mean come on give it up already she doesn’t love you!!

The final scene of Act Two is a prelude to what is to come of the next act. Maria enacts her plan to trick Malvolio into thinking the love letter he has found is for him from Olivia. When Maria plants the letter she tells the others that she is planning to make a fool of Malvolio, “Observe him, for the love of mockery; for I know this letter will make a contemplative idiot of him.” (II. v. 17-18) He goes about reading this letter and reads it to Sir Toby who of course makes sure he believes every word of it. Malvolio is now so love struck he will believe anything that the letter says, even if it means dressing like a moron. Maria wrote the letter to Malvolio in which she included having him do everything that Olivia hated. So this next Act will be very interesting indeed!

Twelfth Night ACT ONE

 

                The Twelfth Night begins with the Duke of Illyria pouring out his obsession with Olivia and the fact that he loves a woman that will not love him back. “O, when mine eyes did see Olivia first, Methought she purged the air of pestilence. That instant was I turned into a hart, And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds, E’er since pursue me.” (I.i.20-24) The Duke feels that he cannot wait the amount of time she needs to heal before he can have her. He goes on thinking about Olivia and listening to music.

                In another part of the country a shipwreck produces a young girl named Viola. She believes that her twin brother has died in the crash and loses all hope in finding him again; without him, she doesn’t know what she can do to make a living. “And what should I do in Illyria? My brother he is in Elysium. Perchance he is not drowned. What think you sailors?” (I.ii.3-5) Viola chats with the sailors and their captain, who tell her not to lose hope and that the Duke she seeks is still in love with another lady (Olivia). Viola decides that she will not have the opportunity to work for Olivia so instead she will disguise herself as a man and work for the Duke. She convinces that captain to help hide her true identity in return for a large sum of money. “Conceal me what I am, and be my aid For such disguise as haply shall become The form of my intent.” (I.ii.53-55)

                From my observations so far, I think that Viola dressing as a man to possibly impress the Duke may backfire on her but could be for the better. I am going to make the assumption that later in the novel when and if the Duke discovers the true identity of Viola, they will fall in love and live happily ever after.

                Moving on to Scenes III and IV, we venture into Olivia’s house which she shares with her uncle Sir Toby. Maria (Olivia’s best friend) is trying to discourage Sir Toby from bringing in a suitable bachelor to talk to Olivia. However, he doesn’t listen and that is where Sir Andrew comes into the picture. Sir Andrew is a petty fellow, who in my opinion sounds like a total loser. When introduced to Maria, he continually gets her name wrong. Thankfully he is discouraged from continuing to babble on with Maria and leaves with Sir Toby. “And I thought that, I’d forswear it. I’ll ride home tomorrow, Sir Toby.” (I.iii.87-88)

                Scene IV starts with a conversation between Viola and the Duke. Viola’s disguise has apparently worked and now she is known by Cesario throughout the Duke’s court. She quickly became one of the Duke’s favorite personal messengers and now has been chosen to deliver love letters to Olivia. “I have unclasped To thee book even of my secret soul. Therefore, good youth, address thy gait unto her…” (I.iv.13-15)

                So Viola, I mean Cesario, travels to Olivia’s house and tells the guards that he is not leaving until he speaks with Olivia. She finally allows him in, “Let him approach. Call in my gentlewoman.” (I.v.161) Olivia is astonished at how feminine looking Cesario is (how ironic!). They go about talking and by the end of Act one, it seems as though Olivia is falling in love with Cesario. Little does she know that Cesario is actually Viola! I am interested to find out how that one will pan out later in the play.

Othello [final blog]

 

At the start of Act 3, we read that Cassio truly feels badly about what he had done the night before.  He is upset that he lost his position of lieutenant from this brawl, even more so, he is mad at himself for not being able to control his emotions and losing all trust from Othello.  Because of this he sends his musicians to play to Othello in the hopes it might lighten the tension between the two, “Masters, play here. I will content your pains. Something that’s brief and bid “Good Morrow General.”” (III.i. lines 1-2)

However, this plead for forgiveness is soon overlooked as Othello is soon approached by Iago who informs him that he believes Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio. Othello becomes enraged and tells Iago to make sure that he is right and not just making false assumptions, “Make me to see’t; or at the least so prove it That the probation bear no hinge nor loop To hang a doubt on –or woe upon my life.” (III.iii. lines 361-363)

Othello is so pissed off at Desdemona he even considers having her executed too for her “adultery” that she has apparently committed. He goes to fetch her and ask her where the handkerchief is that he gave to her as their first present together. Unfortunately she had lost it only hours ago and has to lie to him and tell him it is in safe keeping. What Desdemona does not know is that the handkerchief was actually stolen from her in order to make her look like, well like a whore.

But, what I have not mentioned yet, is that this whole act is based on the devilish plan thought up from Iago. I had it right from the beginning; he is just a backstabbing you know what and only seems to be friends with Othello in order to gain his power from his downfall in the end.  

Othello wants Cassio to be killed for what he does and has Iago do it. However, Iago is so worried about his personal image that he has Roderigo do it for him. “I have no great devotion to the deed, And yet he hath given me satisfying reasons. ‘Tis but a man gone. Forth my sword! He dies!” (act V. i. lines 8-10) Unfortunately, Roderigo thinks that what he is doing is for the greater benefit of his country. And because of that he is killed in the process of trying to kill Cassio.

Othello has Desdemona over to his place to talk things over. But things take a turn for the worse as he believes nothing she says and relies on only the information given to him by Iago. “.. Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin, For to deny each article with oath cannot remove nor choke the strong conception That I do groan withal. Thou art to die.” (V.ii. lines 53-56) Othello suffocates Desdemona and only moments later learns that all he did was in sin.

Othello soon unearths all of Iago’s dirty secrets in order to gain his power. Othello feels so badly about not believing anything that other people told him that he believes that he must kill himself in order to make up for all the wrongs he has committed.  “I kissed thee ere I killed thee. No way but this, killing myself, to die upon a kiss.” (V.ii. 354-355)

In the end, Iago’s true intentions are revealed and even though it doesn’t go on to say what happened to him, I can only imagine that it was an eye for an eye of what Othello had to endure. Sadly, even the greatest of men are killed when they don’t pay attention to the little details.

Othello Blog #3

We last left off with the knowledge of Othello throwing a party for the accomplishment of winning the battle between Normandy and the Turks.  After the announcement of the party, Othello and Desdemona exit and leave Iago and Cassio to talk amongst themselves.  Their conversation leads to Desdemona and how they think she is a frisky girl.  Iago says, “And, I’ll warrant her full of game.” (II.iii. line 19) they continue talking and although it is difficult to determine tone in a novel, I believe that Cassio is upset that Desdemona flirted with him and then left with Othello, she has… “An inviting eye; yet methinks right modest.” (II.iii. line 23) Soon Cassio leaves and Iago begins to summon up an evil plan for Cassio to tell the courts what he really feels towards Desdemona and the whole marriage in general.  Iago plans to have Cassio start drinking, “If I can fasten but one cup upon him With that which he hath drunk tonight already, He’ll be as full of quarrel and offense As my young mistress’ dog.” (II.iii. lines 46-49) This idea shows what I had assumed earlier about Iago.  He is all about himself and constantly thinking of ways to get himself off while getting others in trouble.  

The men begin drinking and yelling and singing as the alcohol seeps deeper into their veins.  Cassio begins saying that he thinks Othello hasn’t earned his place, “No, for I hold him to be unworthy of his place that does those things. Well, God’s above all; and there be souls must be saved, and there be souls must not be saved.”(II.iii. lines 98-101) When Cassio made the reference to God’s souls being saved or not, I believe that he thinks that even though Othello is looked up to, something must be done.  That something could utterly mean that Othello must be dealt with in the best interests of the country.  It sounded like Cassio was ready to do it himself if it came to that. 

Before long, Cassio becomes uncontrollable.  Many men try to stop him before he says something that really could hurt his reputation.  He threatens Montano (an officer who goes to help Cassio) by telling him that he is going to take his head off, “Let me go, sir, or I’ll knock you o’er the mazzard.” (II.iii. lines line

Cassio just cannot keep himself under control, partially due to the fact that he had just drunk about a gallon of wine and that he is completely roused up because he is expressing his true feelings toward Othello.  When Montano tries to stop him, Cassio goes crazy and starts fighting with him.  Unfortunately, Montano is injured, “Zounds, I bleed still. I am hurt to the death.” (II.iii. lime 162)

Right before Montano takes his last breath, Othello stumbles upon the fighting men.  He cannot believe what he had just witnessed.  “He that stirs next to carve his own rage Holds his motion.” (II.iii. lines 172-173)

This quote just shows that Othello is now aware that everybody he thought was any ally is not to be trusted.  New character personalities are coming to the surface and hopefully Othello will be able to see the obvious before it becomes to late to save his own life.

Othello blog #2

The beginning of Act I scene 3 starts with the Duke and his senators talking about a possible invasion of the Turks. This is the first time in this play that the characters discuss happenings outside of the basic storyline of the play itself.  Before you know it, Brabantio comes running into the court asking the Duke to arrest Othello for stealing his daughter.  He then finds out that Desdemona has been sleeping with Othello and this just puts him over the top mad.  He cannot believe that Othello, once his great friend, has spoiled his maiden daughter.  Brabantio accuses Othello of using some sort of witch craft in order to make Desdemona fall in love with him.  However, Othello is so certain that he did nothing of the sort that he is willing to stake his life on the fact that Desdemona shares the same unforced love for him as he does for her.  “If you do find me foul in her report, The trust, the office, I do hold of you Not only take away, but let your sentence Even fall upon my life.” (I.iii.117-120)

Granted that Othello never did such a thing the Duke still wants proof of his innocence. So Othello goes about telling the Duke how Brabantio had invited him over on several occasions to tell the stories of his dangerous youth.  Othello says that these stories are the sole cause of the love between him and Desdemona.  Othello goes on saying that Desdemona pitied the hardships that Othello had to struggle through.  

Brabantio still cannot believe it so he wants to hear it from Desdemona herself. Honestly, who can blame him?  If I were her dad and just found out that my little girl was messing around with a black man that wasn’t from the same religion I would want her word too. 

Anyways, Desdemona goes about telling her father that she married Othello and truly does love him.  She tells her dad that she is only letting Othello take her from him because he did the same thing to her mother.  “And so much duty as my mother showed To you, preferring you before her father, So much I challenge that I may profess Due to the Moor my lord.” (I.iii.184-187) Brabantio is so let down he cannot even stand the thought of thinking of her, “For your sake, jewel, I am glad at soul I have no other child, For thy escape would teach me tyranny, To hang clogs on them. I have done, my lord.” (I.iii.193-196)

When you continue reading, Othello goes on to protect Cyprus from the Turks.  Meanwhile, Desdemona begins talking to Cassio and asks him to compliment her.  Now Iago hears the whole conversation and believes that she is now falling in love with Cassio!  Act 2 scene 1 begins the fight between Montano and Cassio.  I am not quite sure what the fight was pertaining to, all I know is that Othello helped to end it.

In conclusion, I believe that Iago is going to drive Othello crazy about the fact that Desdemona loves him and possibly loves Cassio as well.  I also believe that Iago is becoming more partial to Roderigo than he is to Othello and in the end might use this to his benefit.  We will just have to keep reading to find out.

Othello: Act 1 {scenes 1 & 2}

Shakespeare began this play with a basic teenage love story.  A girl loves a boy who she is not allowed to love.  The girl, Desdemona, is head over heels for the Moor Othello.  However, her father it seems has set up a marriage for her with another man, Roderigo. Now Roderigo is bribing Iago, an old captain in the army, to give wonderful gifts and sums of money to Desdemona to win her over.  When they hear that Desdemona and Othello have run off, the two men race to her father’s house to tell him of the news. Upon hearing this, Brabantio, goes a little crazy and asks all the neighbors to help find Desdemona.  “Give me a taper! Call up all my people!” (Line 139)

Once Brabantio gathers all his neighbors, Iago fears that he will do anything to get back at Othello for taking away his daughter. However, Othello believes that what he has done for his country will protect him from whatever Brabantio has to say. “Let him do his spite. My services which I have done the Signiory Shall out-tongue his complaints.” (Lines 17-19) When Othello is confronted by Brabantio he stays calm as to show off the poise character Shakespeare wrote him to be.  His character is very confident as that he believe that nothing can get in his way and with everything that he has accomplished he is invincible to these commoners (Brabantio and his neighbors).

In my opinion, Shakespeare’s beginning to this tragedy is one to not be forgotten.  It sets the tone for the rest of the play and foreshadows what is to come.  I do not quite understand how and why Othello came about to his duties of general.  I thought that at this time in history, people of African American heritage were looked down upon as slaves or indentured servants.  Any thoughts?? 

As for the main theme of what I have read so far, I believe it is that you cannot limit yourself because of who you were born as.  That sounds like a stretch for only reading the first two scenes of this play but that is how I see it.

If you look deeper into the chemistry between the characters you can identify the tensions between a few of them.  I believe that Iago is under major influence of Roderigo and Othello to only better himself, and to be seen as the best man for the job. However, he does seem to botch all the chores that are given to him which I think will eventually get back to him.  I can see this happening because Roderigo is already thinking that having Iago bribe Desdemona was obviously a bad choice on his part, “Tush! Never tell me? I take it much unkindly That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse As if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this.”  

                To conclude, that is what I believe is going on so far in the tragedy of Othello. :)