Those Nasty Stereotypes

In the play Much ado About Nothing Shakespeare uses several different types of stereotypes. I believe Shakespeare does this as a lesson to his audience. I think this way because of the way he pictures Dogberry, a lower class hardworking man however Shakespeare has him appear disheveled, ineducated however this does add to the comedy in the play. As well as lower classes Shakespeare explores the exploitation of women, for instance when Hero is excused of being a un-virginal, her father despises her,her potential husband humiliates her and everyone else seems to go along because at the time the stereotype was that women could be vile temptresses. I think this is what makes Shakespeare's plays so relatble to modern times.

Dirty, Dirty Lies

As children we are taught lying is never the right thing to do, in any situation. However as one grows up you begin to learn this lesson can not be accomplished. When lying causes hurt or harm to others, that is when lying becomes necessary. For instance if a pregnant women were to ask you if she looked fat in what she was wearing your true response would make the already hormonal women very upset, your answer would have to be "no you look great" there is no harm in that.

In the play Much Ado About Nothing the prince,Claudio,and Leanato come up with a scheme to trick Bendick to think Beatrice to fall in love.(II,i)During this scene the men lie about Beatrice's affections toward Benedick. Upon hearing this news he declares to requite it. This lying was done for the benefit of both Beatrice and Benedick to realize their feelings for each other. In my opinion lying is only accepted when done to for the good of others or to prevent harm to others.

Rembrance

By Emily Bronte

Cold in the earth—and the deep snow piled above thee,

Far, far removed, cold in the dreary grave!

Have I forgot, my only Love, to love thee,

Severed at last by Time's all-severing wave?

Now, when alone, do my thoughts no longer hover

Over the mountains, on that northern shore,

Resting their wings where heath and fern-leaves cover

That noble heart for ever, ever more?

Cold in the earth, and fifteen wild Decembers

From those brown hills have melted into spring:

Faithful indeed is the spirit that remembers

After such years of change and suffering!

Sweet Love of youth, forgive if I forget thee,

While the world's tide is bearing me along:

Sterner desires and other hopes beset me,

Hopes which obscure, but cannot do thee wrong!

No later light has lightened up my heaven;

No second morn has ever shone for me:

All my life's bliss from thy dear life was given,

All my life's bliss is in the grave with thee.

But when the days of golden dreams had perished,

And even Despair was powerless to destroy,

Then did I learn how existence could be cherished,

Strengthened, and fed without the aid of joy;

Then did I check the tears of useless passion,

Weaned my young soul from yearning after thine;

Sternly denied its burning wish to hasten

Down to that tomb already more than mine.

And even yet I dare not let it languish,

Dare not indulge in Memory's rapturous pain;

Once drinking deep of that divinest anguish,

How could I seek the empty world again?

What i find this poem resonates with me is remembrance, remembrance of one's youth and a past love. The poem is about how she remembers but not in the same she did when the death had occurred "sweet love of youth , forgive if i forget thee/While the world's tide is bearing me along" (line 13- 14) The poem all and all is very sad not surprising for a Bronte, she describes her pain that once was and still somewhat is she also tell she says how she felt years ago " Down to that tomb already more than mine/ And even yet I dare not let it languish" (line2 6-27.) A remembrance of a lost love a very sad poem all and all.

Well 1st quarter was a real learning experience. I learned how to write a well thought out thesis and how to analyze books and visual images such as movies and pictures. I didn't do as well as i thought i would, but like i always say there is always room for improvement and next quarter i will do just that, improve. My goals for next quarter include receiving an A, keeping up with my blog assignments, writing in a more organized manner and overall improving my work ethic. I have though really learned a lot in this quarter and i know that it will only help me in quarters and grades to come.BYE!

Outside Reading Pos:5 conclusion

Notes taken: 10/17/07

As i finished this book i realized how wonderful it is and how many things seem to have the similar story line. The age Of Innocence seems to be a soap opera for the olden days with a notable love trial and the struggle of obligations against individual wants and needs. In this case the obligations were that of society and the rules that were understood but never broken. Even though I am not a rule breaker myself I felt that love was the exception. Exspecially in Newland's case. All society can do is create a scandal the price of individual happiness is worth so much more. We can see the after math of this is horrible as Newland cannot bring himself to see her again they however are united through his son " Dallas." (chapter 34)

I thought the overall themes of this book were very strong. Obligation being the key theme, obligation towards what society deems right and obligation of matrimony. Power is another key theme of the book, it shows us that usually people with money have a sense of power which leads to a sense of intimidation.( chapter 1.)The final theme is conformity and how if you conform to someone else's rules such as society's you will find a dull exsistence and never be truly happy.

Outside Reading Post: 4 money, money, money

Notes taken:10/11/07

Underlying many of the characters actions is the need or want for money. The Countess is always weighing the advantage of staying in her marriage based on her possible income. When her husband makes her an offer. P. 190 "He wants you back -at any price? Well-a considerable price at least the sum is considerable for me. " The comment is made that all she would have to do is sit at the table and preside over dinners. Her husband does not a scandal and is willing to pay her or bargain with her to avoid it.

Throughout the book money is used to determine the characters status in how you are ranked. There is a tension between old and new money. The old money is deemed to have more prestige than the new. The men are the ones who are normally working for a living; the women inherit money or are born into a lifestyle that requires money to sustain and perpetuate. Men are only to marry women of equal of higher ranking in society the only exception of that seems to be in women who bear great beauty.P 19.

Outside Reading Post:3 The aftermath of conformity

Notes Taken:10/8/07


By chapter 23 Newland is disliking the dullness of marriage. His life and activities are dictated by their place in society. May is continually making references to what is the right thing to do. Life visiting her family in Newport is divided by what her parents think and how they believe people should act. Archer begins to fantacize about Countess Ellen. P. 182 "He simply felt that if he could carry away the vision of the spot of earth she walked on, and the way the sky and sea enclosed it, the rest of the world might seem less empty." He began to believe Ellen was his escape from the boredom of the rest of his life.

By chapter 24 Ellen and Archer have admitted their feelings for each other and their mutual despair at their own circumstances. Marriage for both of them is a combination of form over substance, doing the right things expected of by society. P. 199 "But after a moment the sense of waste and ruin overcame him. There they were, close together and safe and shut in; yet so chained to their separate destinies that they might as well be half a world apart."