Tentative Paper Topic

I have been switching my paper topic too many times to count. At first, I wanted to write of Moira and how her character changes from the idea Offred makes of her till when she meets her again. Then I switch to the resistance (Mayday) and how Ofglen and Nick were a part of it until the ending in which he still leads Offred to believe the men taking her were a part of the resistance. Now I'm on loss of Identity talk about how people lose their true identity or individuality under the government. Examples are when they switch houses they switch names to Of____. Also, the eyes, the angels, the commander, we never learn of their names, we only know Serena Joys because of Offred seeing her on tv when she was young. Janine's and Moira's names are known only because she knew them in the past. Finally how after someone is put to death they aren't even allowed an identity because they have bags over their heads hanging on the wall.
The only part I find strange is that Rita, Cora,  and Nick are called by their names, but not really anyone else.

The Handmaid's Tale End

 WHAT!?!?!?! That's it!? So she get discovered cause the Commander was careless. Then we do not even find out if Nick and hsi little "Mayday" thing with the Angels/Eyes people are for real? Or if it was a set up? Ofglen, the original, did say they had a way of getting them out in cases of emergencies. Also, she did know the password so Nick must have too, since I believe it was him who told about the meetings with the Commander. Well, I am going to stick with Nick over hearing the Commander's Wife talk to her and he called upon them to get her out because it was an emergency. It was clear the the Commander and his wife did not know why they had come, but they did not even tell them why. This could be because it was a set up formed by the society.

I hate cliffhangers.....

The Handmaid's Tale 195-

We are seeing a completely knew side to Serena Joy. She definately opened up to the narrator whether it was from her own gain or not we will find out. She wants to help the handmaid get pregnant by using Nick to do it in case the Commander can't do it. Then she gave her a cigarette, which must of meant a lot to Ofhenry.
WOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
She finally finds Moira!! I could not believe she actually got the chance to talk to her and find out what all happened after she escaped. We also find out what happens in the colonies. They get their tubes tied?? Also some gays live there as well. Out of everyone it seems that Moira has the most freedom to do what ever she wants and she's fine with it now compared to being a handmaid. Atleast we find out what happens with something! Now if it answers what happened to Luke.
Also, I wonder if it really was her daughter in the picture Serena Joy brings her.

The Handmaid's Tale 150-195

It appears the the Commander and her are getting very close. By the second time meeting she's very outspoken then eventually asks for hand lotion. It seems insane that magizines are rare and her reaction is like seeing an extinct animal. Theres a part on 153 that she basically thinks anythign to do or resembles women is a susprise it's still around. She's talking about a plants looks, "So female in shape it was a surprise they'd not long since been rooted out." We also find out what had happened to the woman before her. She had hung herself after writing that Latin phrase. We now can gather that he had been this generous with the other handmaids, because how else could she have known that phrase. The Commander wants the women to atleast be able to stand their lives and not feel completely miserable, which is a very generous act, but he also is looking for someone to confide in. The end of chapter 30 is very interesting. She's praying to God, but in a les formal fashion. She talks to God as You instead. I think she has a feeling of being more free than she has in the past. It's like she's talking to a friend instead of praying and hoping she'll get an answer. This is not looking good for her, I really hope that she does not choose to kill herself in the end.

The Handmaid's Tale 99-50

These next chapters become more confusing. It seems the farther we get into the story the more she has flash backs and tells about stories. Her mom sounds like a spunky woman, but she does have a point when she says this is how she wanted it. I wonder what they were running from that Luke got seperated from her and her daughter. That some how he would have reached the river bank. Also, Birth Day gets all the women excited, especially if there's nothing wrong with the baby. The reward is that Janine will never be an unwomen even if she can't have another baby. THough, what happens to the baby. I'm sure they;ll raise her but how? Will she herself become a commander's wife or will she be turned into a handmaid too. I love the part where Moira escapes. She couldn't take the crap anymore and found a way out.
Later the story kind of drags on, until she meets with the commander. I still would like to know what the point of playing scrabble was. maybe, he just wanted to enjoy some company. His wife sure doesn't seem like a Joy to be around anymore, and all he wanted was to have a companion and feel cared for.

The Handmaid's Tale 49-99

Well this story gets more intense as I read it. My favorite parts so far are when she finds the writing, she believess is Latin. I had to google it, because curiousity got the best of me. Apparently is means Don't let the bastards wear you down. It is a good message to the new women that come in the house, if only they knew what it ment. The flash backs get confusing, but I enjoy hearing about Moire because you can tell that's when she's happy. When she gets to see a friendly face. I want to know what happened to her child and Luke. She keeps saying throughout the flash backs that it is better to think they are dead, but I don't think I'd enjoy that thought. Then again I don't know what the outside world would be like for those 2 not being a Handmaid or Martha. This is starting to turn into one of my favorite books to read. Course the ending may change everything.

The Handmaid's Tale

I'm enjoying this book. When you first pick up a book and know nothing about the plot it can be confusing. From the beginning, it seemed as though there are women that are trapted within these houses and forced to obey strict laws. Though as the story goes on, it does seem like prison, but the author says it is not. The narrator of the story is likeable and interesting to hear about her life. I want to know what set off this whole war. That so many women can't have children and what makes a woman unworthy/healthy to have them. The only purpose of the women in red is to, what.. get prego? The part I thought was shocking was the wall. They have dead bodies hanging there to scare people, but where we see doctors as respectable, it is completely frowned upon. People even denied being doctors and destroyed any evidence of it. Obviously, it must of been because women were having abortions and now that they can't have children they are getting rid of doctors. I'd absolutely hate living there. Having to get pregnant, wearing those red outfits, can barely talk or look at other people. Sounds dull and horrible. I'm wondering if something is to happen between her and her walking partner or her Commander's Wife.
I also want to know more about Luke and her daughter. She brings up many stories about Luke and things he has taught her, but never mentioned what has happened to them.

Macbeth Act 5

Macbeth Act 5 Scene 7 and 8
I played Young Siward. I come in first asking who Macbeth is. Then siward is saying how even Macbeth's name is like a curse word. Then Macbeth is a liar and siward dispises him and tries to kill him.
Next Siward, his father, comes to the castle with Malcolm saying how there is a battle and there's not much malcolm can do right now. Finally, this next scene Siward finds out his son has been killed, but knows he died a noble soldiers death and wishes for no more sorrow to be spent on him.
Acting out the scenes was kind of fun. I did like the group that I was assigned to and thought it turned out to be pretty funny. Interacting and watching made class go by quick and fun. It did help understand who all the characters were talking about and to, rather then us just guessing what was going on during the whole play. Wish I could have seen the rest of the skits that were done on Friday!! I'm sure the other did not quite topped Act 5 though! They were pretty impressive.
The asking quesitons part was just kind of hard to do on the spot. Act 1 did well on their parts. I asked why they had done the scene chosen. This is cause that scene had the right amount of people needed for their group.

Macbeth Paper

Lady Macbeth's controlling intentions out of control led to her guilt. I plan to right about how Lady Macbeth is controlling of her husband. She finds out he'll become king, but besides that she'll also benefit from it, so she pushes Macbeth to kill DUncan. She obviously makes the decisions for their relationship and how it goes. Then how her decisons have changed Macbeth to the point of being out off control and killing Macduff's family. This is where Lady macbeth is beginning to feel guilty and talk of the things in her sleep.

How does Lady Macbeth differ from other  women characters of Shakespear? - Nicole
 Has a role more masculine, because most women aren't pushing their husband to kill. If she could of been king/ruler she would of done anything.

How Lady Macbeth influences her husband? - Jenna
They're so close and he'd do anything for her. She also urges him to kill so they can be royal and he'll be the king. He believes what she saying is best and right, like when he sees banque.

Macbeth 2

In the final scenes many events occur against Macbeth. Scene 4 starts off with the witches making a stew and saying a spell. Macbeth enters demanding they tell him what's going to happen to him. He thinks he's in the clear because only someone who wasn't born from a woman can kill him. Right here is where his pride gets to him and makes him cocky. He thinks he can live through this war until someone not born from a woman comes along, which we know there is some kind of loopole. He becomes very parnoid that he continues to kill other people, such as Macduff's son. The part I thought was out of character was that Lady Macbeth was feeling guilty and was sleep walking confessing whaat had happened. Then that ends with her sudden death in the middle of the war. In Act 5 is where everything gets back on track, but B's son is king. Here's the loop, we learn that Macduff was "From his mother's womb, untimely ripped" which i guess techinically ment he wasn't born from woman. So this of course means the end to Macbeth. Then they announce Malcolm as king despite what the prophecy said. I think all along that Macbeth had the choice, but he chose to be selfish.

MACBETH

This story/play is hard to fallow with the old English style writing. In the first Act there are 3 witches, a King, Macbeth, and Banquo. First, we meet the witches talk about a meeting place for something. Then the king and a captain talking about a battle and betrayal of the 'Thane of Cawdor'. After the betrayal he gives the title to Macbeth and sends his men to tell him. Before the men reach Macbeth and Banquo the witches catch them saying hail to Macbeth tellin him of his new title and soon he will also become king.  Now if some crazy old women with beards came hailing to you randomly, you'd wonder what the heck they werre talking about. Also, how would they even predict such a thing? Then telling Banquo his children would sit on the throne. I believe Banquo is the one who will have a better ending, because at first he does not buy into their tales and knows that if a witch were to fortell that, something bad will occur as well. Meanwhile, Ross and Angus come running and tell the the knews of Macbeths new title. Macbeth seems too caught up in hearing he might be king that he is in his own little fantasy world. After recieving his title he tells his wife who it appears thinks very little of him, because she wants him to have the crown more than likely for her own purposes. She seems evil cause she plans to kill the king. Macbeth realizes that the only reason to kill the king would be for selfish gain, but gives into his crazy wife.
Act 2
This is where it gets a creepy tone to the story. Macbeth imagines a floating dagger with blood on it that points toward Duncan. This could be a trick of his mind or of the 3 weird witches making their plan unravel. Next his wife give the okay that the chambermaids are asleep, so they can go ahead with the plan. Macbeth has to do it but after the deed is done, you can feel the regret he has. He wonders if this deed will stay with him the rest of his life. Lady Macbeth has to put the daggers with the chamberlains. Lady Macbeth feels no guilt at all it seems. She is alright with it as long as he becomes king. Now here's where they play all innocent when they call upon the king and find him dead. Malcolm and Donalbain are frightened and plan to flee. Which no one would blam them, if the king is killed and you're next in line to the throne. Though they leave, they being to wonder if the chamberlains were paid off and start to put things together. Wondering who could of killed their father for real. Macbeth is said to be made king as they had planned. The tone of the scenes seem to get gloomier and gloomier. This isn't looking good for Macbeth, though he thinks he's in the clear.

Daddy

The poem Daddy, was a litttle hard to comprehend at first. I didn't start to get it till i reread and saw the above description. She makes it obvious her dad was cruel. That he treated her like the Nazis treated the Jews. I'm not sure what kind of abuse, but it seemed to stick with her and drive her crazy even after he passed away when she was 10. At age 20 she tried to commit suicide but failed because someone found her and got her help.  So 10 years after her dad died, he still hurt her and she was still extremely upset. I believe if he were still alive, she would of evetually killed him herself.  Then later she finds another man to fill his shoes. It seems that she had a boyfriend or something that hurt her in the same way. One part I don't understand is why she relates him to a vampire. That the new man in her life was with her for 7 years but  she pictured him as her dad coming back from the dead as a vampire?
Crazy story.

Leda and the Swan

This poem seems a little uneasy. Leda and the Swan is basically talking a bout a girl, Leda, getting raped by a swan but is so caught up in the moment. She doesn't know how to push him off because she's terrified. When researching the poem, it says it comes from Greek mythology and the swan is actually Zues in disguise. I'm not sure what it means by Agamemnon is dead, but it does mentions brute blood in the air. This could mean there is a war or something happening in this time or soon will. This would be kind of a hard concept to understand in the poem unless you research it a little bit after or before it. It makes more sense after you research it and allows you to understand it more.

The Chimney Sweeper

"The Chimney Sweeper" was a very interesting and inspiring poem. It talks about the feelings of the boys and also how one of them came into chimney sweeping. The part of that I like is the story of Tom Dacre. When we first hear of him he's upset that he had to shave his head. This could be a symbol of him being afraid of starting the job and having to go to work as a chimney sweeper. Then he has a dream of an Angel coming to talk to him. She/he tells him about Gods love and how he'll reward them all for working hard. The Black coffins could be the world they're apart of now, dark and hard to live in, but  if they live each day and be good they'd be blessed by God by taking them to heaven.

Harrison Bergeron

No one is smarter, better looking, or better in anyway. The George talks to Hazel about having to keep the weight in his box, because if one person disobeys then others will start doing the same which will lead to competition again and they don't want to go back to the stoneage again. They talk of ballerinas wearing masks and George wearing an ear piece so her doesn't become smarter, interupting an thoughts he has. This sounds miserable. It takes away our individuality rather than taking away just competition. They also competition can be healthy every once in a while.
When their son, Harrison, comes into the story, he sounds more like a hero rather than a dictator like Diana Moon Glampers seems to be. He of all people knew he was ment to be different, at 7 feet tall. He wanted to be the Emporer with his Emporess, the ballerina, and more then likely rule it better. Yes, they'd still have a leader, but I think they'd be able to embrace their individuality rather then hide it and be punished for it. Of course, there can't be a happy ending or change so the woman comes in and shoots them both. The terrible part is that Hazel and George don't know or remember that their son had not only been on t.v. trying to be emporer, but was also killed. In a way it erases pain and memories, so they don't know why they were once said or even know what it's like to be really happy.

The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas

In The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, it describes festivals and complete bliss. The narrator says that it's almost impossible to describe the town and do it justice. Does this happiness come at a cost? In the basement or cellar of one of the pricate homes, there is a room that is locked with no windows. Inside this tiny, 2x3 room are mops, a rusty bucket, and a child. Helpless, tiny, thin, under developed child. The story  talks of how discusting and frightened the child is, yet no one helps. The narrator say the happiness of the city depends on this child. Though what would happen if they let him/her out? Would there happiness disappear? There would be dispair and disaster taking over the city? I don't believe they know exactly, because they haven't tried to let him/her out. Maybe it got started by a mother or father abusing a child long ago and they justify it by making up a myth that if a child is let out of there the whole city will no longer be a happy, festive place.
They are not even allowed to speak to the child, so after many years they can't talk and only speaks jibberish. Also, it can't be the same child all the time. If a 50 years were to go by, if the child were to live that long due to little nutrition, and they die, do they replace the child? Then what would the process be of picking the child? It could be like The Lottery. Then it also talks of those who cry about it to others, but they can't do anything because they believe there's no hope for the child even if they let them out. Also, there are those who leave after seeing him or her. They leave alone and I believe it's because they feel guilt and don't want to be a part of a town that harms a child in that way. Though, if the harm of one saves hundreds of others from hurt would it be worht it? No, becuase no matter what you can't be happy all the time, and if you are you don't feel much or anything if you dont feel sad for the person keeping you from pain.

The Lottery

Well this took me by complete surprise. The story talks of the towns people gathering around for a lottery, which is today known for winning a prize, like money. The kids pick up rocks and put them in piles, which i thought was just something childish to do. Then the men and women gathered with their family, and Mr. Summers came with the black box and called out all the names for them to come up and grab a piece of paper from the box, but can't look at them right away.  Who ever gets the correct one wins! After Mr. Summer calls all the names they can finally look. This is the part that I figured out something was wrong. Everyone was hesitant about opening their papers, which in a lottery for money most are anxious to. The winner of the lottery turns out to be Bill Hutchinson. Then his wife starts freaking out that it wasn't fair, which obviously ment that something wasn't right with this 'lottery'. Then they entered the names of the family on to pieces of paper to draw again. Then the true winner is his wife, Tessie. All of a sudden, everyone is starts throwing stones at her. Quite the lottery winner. This didn't make any sense, because why would they hold a lottery to kill or hurt someone in their village. Did they believe it was some sort of sacrificial ritual? Other towns had done it as well, so what was going on?

Young Goodman Brown

This story begins as a love story and him having to leave for a meeting of some sort. When Goodman Brown talks of having to leave Faith I first thought he was going to a meeting for something bad, like he was involved in something bad that he didn't want Faith to know about. When he arrived at the forest I figured he knew the man, but the man said he knew his father and grandfather which was freaky. He also had a cane that had a snake on it that was realistic and could help him get to his destination faster. It seemed as though he denied the devil or a temptation of a devil. Next Goodman Brown ran into a woman he knew  but revealed herself as a witch. This seems like a symbol that he shouldn't trust everyone he knows to say they're Christian.  Then I believe he is tempted and teased by using Faith to lure him, because he hears her voice and find her ribbon. At the ceremony he sees many people he knows and his father pressing him forward, but his own mother holding him back. Maybe the mother could be trying to help him and act as a gaurdian angel. Finally, when he up there with Faith he tells her to look up to the heavens and resist the devil.  He then is alone and when heads back home he refuses to greet the people, because he sees them as evil. He even snatches a little girl so she isn't tainted by them. I don't believe he was completely insane for it, but maybe had a vision he believed to be a sign of God to warn him and help the people in the village.

The Yellow Wallpaper

As I read  The Yellow Wallpaper, it seemed to drag on slowly, as the women herself slowly revealed she was going crazy. At first it seemed like she was just sick and he husband was admitting to it cause he was so concerned with his work in town that he didn't really care to listen. Then the story shows him to really care, but she becomes suspicious of him. The part that bothered me was, why was it such a big deal that she HAD to be in that specific room? Especially since she was so uncomfortable in the room you'd think her husband would just let her switch if she was just going to be there for the summer. There could be a hidden plot behind the husbands action. Perhaps she's actually in a hospital to help her. There are bars on the window and they don't like her to leave, but then again the husband stays the night with her.

Another part of the story that was intense was the fact that she was so obsessed with the wallpaper and there being something moving within it, she started acting like everyone else wanted to figure it out, but she wanted it to herself. She says she caught  John and Jennie looking at the paper. She thought they wanted it but she  wanted to find it out all by herself. In the end, she becamen one with the woman who was 'in the wall, creeping the garden.' It was her own reflection. Then she tore down the wall paper and locked her huband out. It brought up something with about a rope that she kept hidden and at first I thought she was planning to try and capture the woman in the wall, but it'd end up being her and she'd kill herself. Though, after that the husband came into the room as she was crawling around tearing down the paper and he passed out. This I still don't understand why he fainted. She tore down wall paper... What's the big deal?

The Tell-Tale Heart

Of course he doesn't have the mind of a mad man. I mean every sane man stands ina door way for hours to peek their head in a person's room before they decide to kill him.I think it takes talent, in a very creepy way, to be that patient for hours to get in a person's room. I'm not sure about the eye, does he have a fake eye and that's the reason it bothers him so much? A vulture's eye? As the story goes on and he tries so hard to convince us that he's not mad, he gets so caught up in proving it that it makes him more insane. He plans the killing then cuts him up into pieces and replaces the boards in the floor. Then it comes to the point he proving he's sane to the cops that he can't handle it and becomes paranoid. He hears the man's heart the same as when he hears it before he killed him.Which tells the tale of the man's heart. It' makes sense in the title, but something about the is important to, because it's what drove him to kill. This deffinately keeps your attention throughout the book.

A Rose For Emily

A Rose For Emily twists and turns in many directions that no one can honestly predict coming. The story talks a lot of Emily and her father. It begins starting at with a brief look of her death. Then part of the story circulates around the father dying, leaving her alone even till the time she's 30. Not even a supposed suiter there for her. What a butthead. Though, later he may have chosen the right route in ditching or else it may have been him lying dead in her bed. I'm just curious of the part that talks of Emily's great aunt succuming to insanity. By the end of the story I believe Emily had gone, or been, insane possibly cause of genetics from her aunt's side of the family. If you say someone who kills a person before a preplanned marriage, then just never comes out of their house until they die when they're 74, not to mention living with the corpse in their bed wasn't a looney. I'd call you a looney! The story leaves many things unanswered and open for someone to image what had really happened. It states that the towns people say Homer "wasn't a marrying man", so perhaps Miss Emily wanted to marry him, but he objected, which led to her poisening him. Then she'd lay with him after he died. Another ending mystery is her servant Tobe opens the door for the people, then walks out. "Never to be seen again." dun dun dunnn.
Interesting story. Certainly nothing I'd ever image coming up with by myself to write about. Unless it was a true story, which would be crazy/creepy.
**--- (2 of 5 stars)