"It's queer how out of touch with truth women are! They live in a world of their own and there had never been anything like it and never can be. It is too beautiful altogether, and if there were to set it up it would go to pieces before the first sunset. Some confounded fact we men have been living contentedly with ever since the day of creation would start up and knock the whole thing over." (12)
So far there have been a lack of women in the novels we've read (besides Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea) who aren't portrayed as contemptuous... yet again. I chose this line (or paragraph) because it is very applicable in more than one sense. The narrator could be assumed to be christian because he is European and his use of "day of creation." He probably supports what the Bible has to say like "I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet" (1 Timothy 2:12). Oh, the Bible had quite some humor. He views women as a narrow-minded sex who never bother to look beyond their own concerns and what not and are incapable of that. And if that were to even happen, their understanding of the world would be shattered. Yet, the narrator, a white man heading to Africa, will most likely act in the same manner in which he perceives women. He will become the narrow-minded because he will refuse to understand African culture and will undermine them because he will believe his culture is imperialistic. So far, it is he who has lived in his own world and this is his first time heading to Africa.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
Wide Sargasso Sea: Part 2
The point-of-view changes to Rochester's perspective. Rhy does this to show us what Rochester is thinking and for us to decide for ourselves whether or not Rochester deserves the sympathy he did in Jane Eyre. We're also guranteed that the story told so far throught Big Bertha's narration is not a skewed interpretation of her self-pity. In that, we get to see from a third-person point-of-view of Big Bertha and how she is viewed. We feel more sympathy for us as she tells her story to Rochester.This is now Rochester's story.
Bertha tells Rochester that if she were to die, she would want to die now when she is happy and would he be willing to murder her because she's confident that he'll be the person taking her happiness away. Rochester now feels obligated for her happiness and if he leaves her, she'll be correct. If he stays, she'll be happy but he'll be miserable. Only a truly self-serving selish person would decide to leave. If Rhys or Bronte allowed him to leave her; they'll be supporting the stigma of humans on that we are all innately selfish.
Bertha tells Rochester that if she were to die, she would want to die now when she is happy and would he be willing to murder her because she's confident that he'll be the person taking her happiness away. Rochester now feels obligated for her happiness and if he leaves her, she'll be correct. If he stays, she'll be happy but he'll be miserable. Only a truly self-serving selish person would decide to leave. If Rhys or Bronte allowed him to leave her; they'll be supporting the stigma of humans on that we are all innately selfish.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Wide Sargasso Sea: Part 1
Hey guys. Long time, no e-mail!
Read part 1 of Wide Sargasso Sea (approx. pg. 56) for tomorrow. Blog about
your reading with pertinent questions about the story's structure,
point-of-view, characterization of Bertha (or Antoinette, as you will), or
connections between the text and Jane Eyre.
Also, look up the terms "Marginalization" and "Post-Colonialism" on good
ole Wikipedia. Be prepared to discuss in the latter half of class.
If everyone blogs, no quiz. If more than one person blogs, then there will
be a quiz. Cool?
See you tomorrow.
If it isn't another seemingly depressing novel! Jane Eyre was the only book we've read that had a happy ending. Jane and Big Bertha have many similarities in their childhood, the most obvious is that they are alienated and secluded. Conversely, they have many differences due to their similarities. Jane never succumbed to conformity nor compromised her sense of righteousness -- she was a feminist. She could be compared to today's notion of an "independent woman." Jane is more fierce and dominating whereas Big Bertha is more innocent and subservient. She does nothing when her friend cheats her of her pennies and her clothes and then gets a rock thrown on her forehead! On her first day of school, after the house inferno incident, she gets picked on and yet does nothing then she goes and cries! I don't recall Jane crying as pathetic as that. I'm sure Jane would have fought back just as she did to John and Mrs. Reed (verbally).
The readers will unequivocally gain a immense sympathy for Big Bertha's life. She is a victim of racism and social status; her mother had a mental illness; she has no friends; people don't like her; and her brother dies. For a young child, she has experienced many things people experience within a lifetime. Readers who've read Jane Eyre know what lies in her future. She is obliviously seeing her future through her mother's. She ultimately never finds happiness and no one will ever love her; she will only become a nuisance. Interestingly, I am looking forward to the story because it has many deep and profound meaning towards it. Mainly, how Big Bertha will act toward her mother as her disorder worsens and how she is going to react if she discovers that the woman, who is her mother that is slowly becoming a stranger, is who she'll be in the future. It is as if you have discovered the day that you will die and with that knowledge, decide what to do with your time because you realize how short it is.
Read part 1 of Wide Sargasso Sea (approx. pg. 56) for tomorrow. Blog about
your reading with pertinent questions about the story's structure,
point-of-view, characterization of Bertha (or Antoinette, as you will), or
connections between the text and Jane Eyre.
Also, look up the terms "Marginalization" and "Post-Colonialism" on good
ole Wikipedia. Be prepared to discuss in the latter half of class.
If everyone blogs, no quiz. If more than one person blogs, then there will
be a quiz. Cool?
See you tomorrow.
If it isn't another seemingly depressing novel! Jane Eyre was the only book we've read that had a happy ending. Jane and Big Bertha have many similarities in their childhood, the most obvious is that they are alienated and secluded. Conversely, they have many differences due to their similarities. Jane never succumbed to conformity nor compromised her sense of righteousness -- she was a feminist. She could be compared to today's notion of an "independent woman." Jane is more fierce and dominating whereas Big Bertha is more innocent and subservient. She does nothing when her friend cheats her of her pennies and her clothes and then gets a rock thrown on her forehead! On her first day of school, after the house inferno incident, she gets picked on and yet does nothing then she goes and cries! I don't recall Jane crying as pathetic as that. I'm sure Jane would have fought back just as she did to John and Mrs. Reed (verbally).
The readers will unequivocally gain a immense sympathy for Big Bertha's life. She is a victim of racism and social status; her mother had a mental illness; she has no friends; people don't like her; and her brother dies. For a young child, she has experienced many things people experience within a lifetime. Readers who've read Jane Eyre know what lies in her future. She is obliviously seeing her future through her mother's. She ultimately never finds happiness and no one will ever love her; she will only become a nuisance. Interestingly, I am looking forward to the story because it has many deep and profound meaning towards it. Mainly, how Big Bertha will act toward her mother as her disorder worsens and how she is going to react if she discovers that the woman, who is her mother that is slowly becoming a stranger, is who she'll be in the future. It is as if you have discovered the day that you will die and with that knowledge, decide what to do with your time because you realize how short it is.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Crime and Punishment: Done
So Svid lost his attraction to Dunya and is engaged to a teenager. Obviously, there's something wrong with that. Then he goes and kidnap Dunya and locks her in his room and practically gives her an ultimatum: marry him or get raped and if she reports it, he'll report her brother! It turns out, that his wife did indeed die "unnaturally" because he poisoned her. Is it all just for a woman?! and after realizing that she doesn't love him, he goes and commit a suicide and told people that he'll be "leaving for america." But not before, donating (all?) his money to Sonya and his fiancee's family, which was a really kind gesture considering his character. Maybe that was his redemption. Rodya finally confesses to his family and he realizes how much the murder has affected himself and his family and crumbling the future that his mother and sister had worked so hard for. He could have a bright future. He was told to confess midway to the police station and after kissing the ground, he could not go through with it. Really, was is necessary to kiss the floor? that's disgusting. People will think you're a crazier man. Later, after confessing, he goes to prison and has a trial. He has a light punishment due to confessing and is sent to Siberia for hard, unpaid labor! And Sonya goes with him! Raz and Dunya marries and Pulch dies from knowing that her son is murderer. She can't handle the truth, can't she? Despite, being in jail, Rodya is practically the same and the prisoners don't like him, but they like Sonya, haha. Story ends with them revealing their love and getting it on. Gosh, Rodya is one emotional guy.
One question that's on my mind: Why did Nikolai confess? I just don't understand why he would confess something he didn't do. As for the story itself, I felt that this would have been more interesting to read if I was older and had more time to "ingest" it. I had to rush my reading often times and practically skim through the novel so I wasn't able to fully enjoy the novel. The story was pretty good overall but the ending felt a bit cliche with "love" and stuff and gave us too much of a happy feeling. But I guess that's the point because the whole story was depressing until the end. For someone in his teens, I would really enjoy reading a book that I would truly enjoy. I believe there is a book that exists that can provide us with insight to light and profound things while still appeal to the young people. I have to say, the novel was more of an insight in a criminal's mind rather than action. The action was so mundane.
One question that's on my mind: Why did Nikolai confess? I just don't understand why he would confess something he didn't do. As for the story itself, I felt that this would have been more interesting to read if I was older and had more time to "ingest" it. I had to rush my reading often times and practically skim through the novel so I wasn't able to fully enjoy the novel. The story was pretty good overall but the ending felt a bit cliche with "love" and stuff and gave us too much of a happy feeling. But I guess that's the point because the whole story was depressing until the end. For someone in his teens, I would really enjoy reading a book that I would truly enjoy. I believe there is a book that exists that can provide us with insight to light and profound things while still appeal to the young people. I have to say, the novel was more of an insight in a criminal's mind rather than action. The action was so mundane.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Crime and Punishment... Rodya confesses.
1. Continue to read Crime & Punishment. Before Monday complete pgs.
342-399 (the rest of part V and chapters 1-3 of part VI). Blog a response
to convince me that you read. Comment on any appearance of your
theme/symbol/motif in the assigned reading.
So Rodya finally confesses! I was surprised at how sympathetic Sonya was to him and how God would forgive him if he confesses the murder publicly. I expected her to be shocked and repulsed by his actions. Despite confessing, he is still confident and wants to find, even if it's just a little, proof that he is, indeed, an ubermensch. I am shocked at Katerina's treatment towards her children. How can she, as a mother, demand her children to go beg in the streets while saying that they all have aristocractic blood. I highly doubt begging in a street surrounded by poverty and demanding that you're "richer" than everybody else is going to help you. It's also quite ironic, i suppose. She dies and even after her death, forced people to pay for her problems. This time, Svid pays for her funeral and takes care of the children. Why don't you just dig a deep in the ground and call it a day?
I think I've found my favorite characters (finally) who would be Svid and Porfiry because they're smart men. Rodya is smart also, but he's an emotional wreck and committed the murder. Even without much evidence, Profiry is confident in his assumption that Rodya is in fact the real murderer and Rodya's words does not sway him. He even has the courage to tell him where he hid the loot if he decides to commit suicide. Svid is a cunning man, he plays life like a game of chess. He's quite an eavesdropper and with his play on the board, he is might be able to manipulate Rodya to his own gain.
342-399 (the rest of part V and chapters 1-3 of part VI). Blog a response
to convince me that you read. Comment on any appearance of your
theme/symbol/motif in the assigned reading.
So Rodya finally confesses! I was surprised at how sympathetic Sonya was to him and how God would forgive him if he confesses the murder publicly. I expected her to be shocked and repulsed by his actions. Despite confessing, he is still confident and wants to find, even if it's just a little, proof that he is, indeed, an ubermensch. I am shocked at Katerina's treatment towards her children. How can she, as a mother, demand her children to go beg in the streets while saying that they all have aristocractic blood. I highly doubt begging in a street surrounded by poverty and demanding that you're "richer" than everybody else is going to help you. It's also quite ironic, i suppose. She dies and even after her death, forced people to pay for her problems. This time, Svid pays for her funeral and takes care of the children. Why don't you just dig a deep in the ground and call it a day?
I think I've found my favorite characters (finally) who would be Svid and Porfiry because they're smart men. Rodya is smart also, but he's an emotional wreck and committed the murder. Even without much evidence, Profiry is confident in his assumption that Rodya is in fact the real murderer and Rodya's words does not sway him. He even has the courage to tell him where he hid the loot if he decides to commit suicide. Svid is a cunning man, he plays life like a game of chess. He's quite an eavesdropper and with his play on the board, he is might be able to manipulate Rodya to his own gain.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Crime and Punishment: (Almost the End)
Convince me you read! Read pgs. 305-342 (chapter 1-3 of part V) and blog
thoughtfully. What's interesting about these chapters? Significant?
Notable? Confusing? Obfuscating? Be sure to spellcheck and proof your blog
entry before posting. Sound as smart as you are.
Those of you who blog thoughtfully will not take tomorrow's quiz.
Also, work on locating lines and excerpts that support your gorup's
theme/motif/symbol. A good strategy might be folding a sheet of paper in
half, writing lines on one side of the paper, and writing the significance
or the way in which they support your theme/motif/symbol on the other
half. I'll review your notes tomorrow and then we'll discuss.
Finally, some good ol' family action (kind of)! We realize how materialistic Luzhin actually is and the breaking of their engagement seems right now. It is amusing how Luzhin thought that giving more presents to Dunya would help convince her to still stay with him if he had done it. Really now? You would have lost more money that you would have now. We can anticipate what's going to happen when they arrive to Katerina's memorial dinner soon enough. It will certainly highlight Luzhin's self-serving nature. Not so charitable as he was first described in the novel. Katerina uses so much of Rody'a donation to them of a memorial dinner! How does she have the audacity to do that?! Obviously, with your husband's death, you are doomed for more poverty than you already have. Swallow your pride for goodness' sake, you have children to take care of. Your pride doesn't even cost that much and you claim to be noble?! How convincing considering where you're living now. Do you think your claim will suddenly bring you money? You're going to be the same position you were the previous day: poor. And then you go insult your guests and argue with your landlady! You're asking to die, really, you're already coughing blood and all that. Can you not think?! (I learned that (?!) is called an interrobang, interesting fact...) It's ironic that Luzhin's friend, Leb, tells everyone that Sonya was indeed innocent and Luzhin was plotting to ruin her reputation. It's a hit towards her morals because despite being a prostitute, her morals are better than probably everyone else's.
This is were the lines are probably blurred. I don't resent Rodya as much and his murder isn't the focus of the story. We see worse people, Katerina and Luzhin. This makes Rodya seem like the protagonist now when you contrast them together, but it still doesn't change the fact that he murdered somebody.
thoughtfully. What's interesting about these chapters? Significant?
Notable? Confusing? Obfuscating? Be sure to spellcheck and proof your blog
entry before posting. Sound as smart as you are.
Those of you who blog thoughtfully will not take tomorrow's quiz.
Also, work on locating lines and excerpts that support your gorup's
theme/motif/symbol. A good strategy might be folding a sheet of paper in
half, writing lines on one side of the paper, and writing the significance
or the way in which they support your theme/motif/symbol on the other
half. I'll review your notes tomorrow and then we'll discuss.
Finally, some good ol' family action (kind of)! We realize how materialistic Luzhin actually is and the breaking of their engagement seems right now. It is amusing how Luzhin thought that giving more presents to Dunya would help convince her to still stay with him if he had done it. Really now? You would have lost more money that you would have now. We can anticipate what's going to happen when they arrive to Katerina's memorial dinner soon enough. It will certainly highlight Luzhin's self-serving nature. Not so charitable as he was first described in the novel. Katerina uses so much of Rody'a donation to them of a memorial dinner! How does she have the audacity to do that?! Obviously, with your husband's death, you are doomed for more poverty than you already have. Swallow your pride for goodness' sake, you have children to take care of. Your pride doesn't even cost that much and you claim to be noble?! How convincing considering where you're living now. Do you think your claim will suddenly bring you money? You're going to be the same position you were the previous day: poor. And then you go insult your guests and argue with your landlady! You're asking to die, really, you're already coughing blood and all that. Can you not think?! (I learned that (?!) is called an interrobang, interesting fact...) It's ironic that Luzhin's friend, Leb, tells everyone that Sonya was indeed innocent and Luzhin was plotting to ruin her reputation. It's a hit towards her morals because despite being a prostitute, her morals are better than probably everyone else's.
This is were the lines are probably blurred. I don't resent Rodya as much and his murder isn't the focus of the story. We see worse people, Katerina and Luzhin. This makes Rodya seem like the protagonist now when you contrast them together, but it still doesn't change the fact that he murdered somebody.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
There is no meaning to your existence...
Hey folks -
Read the rest of part IV of C&P (to approx. pg. 300). Read the Wikipedia
entries for "Friedrich Nietzsche" and either "Existentialism" or
"Nihlism." Make some connections.
Post a brief response to both readings on your blogs. If everyone posts,
there will be no quiz. All blog posts must address both the novel and the
Wikipedia article, though. THOUGHTFULLY.
Oh, how I have pondered so much on my existence and the difference between existing and living with myself and my friends.... this reminds me of The Doors of Perception and The Road. I believe we're both existing and living, in a scientific sense. If I were to "live," in society's context, I'd probably be in jail or if it were possible, drop out of school (because it's so mundane here) and attend college. Gosh, I regret not applying for an early application and skip my senior year... I believe that we cycle through "existing" and "living" throughout our lives. Some people get goals, achieve, set more goals, and the cycle starts over. Others like to live for the joyful times. It seems that in order to live by society's context, you must always be happy and kept at a constant mental high (soma?). We try to find some purpose, some meaning in our lives because without it, we question our existence and what is the point of living? Just like the man and the boy in The Road. One's belief in a god or superior being gives one a purpose to live and that by abiding to the the rules, one will be granted a good afterlife for one's efforts or suffer for all eternity. Everybody wishes to go to heaven, but no one wants to die. The rapture was the most boring apocalypse, by the way. My blog's name "my karma just ran over your dogma" also references towards God. Nihilism states that there is no meaning to life (and frankly, I don't think there is). In a world of about 7 billion people, many people simply just exist for the sake of living and nothing else. It is arbitrary is to find the meaning of life. I'll give you a hint, it's 42.
Rodya isn't religious and after having Sonya read the story of Lazarus out loud, he finds some hope that he can start his life anew. Rodya doesn't exactly have any reasons for living, he lives in poverty and was a student. Sonya, on the other hand, being a prostitute, the family situation, and everything still has optimistic views. Is this a product of her faith in the existence of a God? Who knows. Would she be as strong in character as she would be if she didn't believe in a deity or would she also fall as low as Rodya is.
I like Nietzsche and his philosophy. I can understand his nihilistic and existential views. His Ubermensch ideology is also quite fascinating and I can understand why. Some people could be innately superior to others (and this brings in the debate of nature versus nurture), but I prefer certain individuals not white supremacy or any race in general. I do believe that Ubermensch should help benefit human society as a whole. Too often, we see how selfish and greedy a country can be. However, I don't think it's an excuse for you to kill someone like how Rodya killed the pawnlady to "benefit" everyone else. There could have been another alternative instead of killing her, like robbing her as Robin Hood would do? No need to murder her and for an absurd reasons also! He then proceeds to questions himself if he is indeed an Ubermensch when he harbors that guilt and mental distress within himself.
Read the rest of part IV of C&P (to approx. pg. 300). Read the Wikipedia
entries for "Friedrich Nietzsche" and either "Existentialism" or
"Nihlism." Make some connections.
Post a brief response to both readings on your blogs. If everyone posts,
there will be no quiz. All blog posts must address both the novel and the
Wikipedia article, though. THOUGHTFULLY.
Oh, how I have pondered so much on my existence and the difference between existing and living with myself and my friends.... this reminds me of The Doors of Perception and The Road. I believe we're both existing and living, in a scientific sense. If I were to "live," in society's context, I'd probably be in jail or if it were possible, drop out of school (because it's so mundane here) and attend college. Gosh, I regret not applying for an early application and skip my senior year... I believe that we cycle through "existing" and "living" throughout our lives. Some people get goals, achieve, set more goals, and the cycle starts over. Others like to live for the joyful times. It seems that in order to live by society's context, you must always be happy and kept at a constant mental high (soma?). We try to find some purpose, some meaning in our lives because without it, we question our existence and what is the point of living? Just like the man and the boy in The Road. One's belief in a god or superior being gives one a purpose to live and that by abiding to the the rules, one will be granted a good afterlife for one's efforts or suffer for all eternity. Everybody wishes to go to heaven, but no one wants to die. The rapture was the most boring apocalypse, by the way. My blog's name "my karma just ran over your dogma" also references towards God. Nihilism states that there is no meaning to life (and frankly, I don't think there is). In a world of about 7 billion people, many people simply just exist for the sake of living and nothing else. It is arbitrary is to find the meaning of life. I'll give you a hint, it's 42.
Rodya isn't religious and after having Sonya read the story of Lazarus out loud, he finds some hope that he can start his life anew. Rodya doesn't exactly have any reasons for living, he lives in poverty and was a student. Sonya, on the other hand, being a prostitute, the family situation, and everything still has optimistic views. Is this a product of her faith in the existence of a God? Who knows. Would she be as strong in character as she would be if she didn't believe in a deity or would she also fall as low as Rodya is.
I like Nietzsche and his philosophy. I can understand his nihilistic and existential views. His Ubermensch ideology is also quite fascinating and I can understand why. Some people could be innately superior to others (and this brings in the debate of nature versus nurture), but I prefer certain individuals not white supremacy or any race in general. I do believe that Ubermensch should help benefit human society as a whole. Too often, we see how selfish and greedy a country can be. However, I don't think it's an excuse for you to kill someone like how Rodya killed the pawnlady to "benefit" everyone else. There could have been another alternative instead of killing her, like robbing her as Robin Hood would do? No need to murder her and for an absurd reasons also! He then proceeds to questions himself if he is indeed an Ubermensch when he harbors that guilt and mental distress within himself.
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