Wednesday, November 7, 2007
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!
Thursday, November 1, 2007
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.
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.
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."
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."
Outside Reading Post 2: Struggle
Notes Taken:10/4/7
Newland Archer begins to struggle with his feelings toward the Countess Ellen Olenska as he defends her past with his society obsessed friends. He begins to realize that there are flaws in the system that he is living in where society requires certain behavior when individuals may desire to act outside of these bounds. As the novel progresses his initial feelings of protection toward Ellen begin to transform into feelings of love. He however struggles with his obligation to May. He is married and must conform to the expectations that society has placed on his relationship. He must be the husband and provide for his wife. The Countess has not responded to Newland's indications that he may find her more than just a companion. That situation begins to change in the middle of the book P. "...he is becoming entranced with Ellen Olenska as a person “to whom things were bound to happen.”
Archer also struggles with his image of himself. He is torn between the requirements of society and his need to be "different from it." He wonders what will happen to him after he is married to May. p. 104 "He had seen enough of other young men who had dreamed his dream though perhaps less ardently and who had gradually sunk into placid and luxurious routine of their elders." Archer does not want to become one of those men but there is great danger in being an individual in a highly restrictive society.
Newland Archer begins to struggle with his feelings toward the Countess Ellen Olenska as he defends her past with his society obsessed friends. He begins to realize that there are flaws in the system that he is living in where society requires certain behavior when individuals may desire to act outside of these bounds. As the novel progresses his initial feelings of protection toward Ellen begin to transform into feelings of love. He however struggles with his obligation to May. He is married and must conform to the expectations that society has placed on his relationship. He must be the husband and provide for his wife. The Countess has not responded to Newland's indications that he may find her more than just a companion. That situation begins to change in the middle of the book P. "...he is becoming entranced with Ellen Olenska as a person “to whom things were bound to happen.”
Archer also struggles with his image of himself. He is torn between the requirements of society and his need to be "different from it." He wonders what will happen to him after he is married to May. p. 104 "He had seen enough of other young men who had dreamed his dream though perhaps less ardently and who had gradually sunk into placid and luxurious routine of their elders." Archer does not want to become one of those men but there is great danger in being an individual in a highly restrictive society.
Outside Reading Post 1: Characters
Notes taken:9/30/07
As I read this book The Age Of innocence I find the characters to be very human and likable. The first character I am introduced to is Newland Archer. Newland is quite young and working as a lawyer in New York City, he also happens to be engaged to a lady named May Welland a socialite with old money. He seems to be more physically attracted to May rather than emotionally he however is fond of her i just can't tell at this point if it is love.As he watches an opera he looks over at her and begins to have thoughts of their wedding.He is also more concerned in social status, and society in general as are his two friends.He seems to be a conformist not following his own thoughts but the thoughts of society.May from what i can tell has little depth and real emotion for her fiancee', she lacks experience and is portrayed in a very innocent, virginal way (7).I began to get the feeling that their matrimony was purely for social reasons not for love and was how things worked at the time of the 1870s.
Newland's friends are of some interest.They seem to know all the goings on of their surroundings. They know who is of social class and what importance they have. They seem to act as Newland's 'wing men' and don't seem to be of great importance. Their names are Lawrence Lefferts and Sillerton Jackson. Lawrence seems to be more of a l man concerend with looks as we can tell by the quote of a previous admirer (9) and Jackson seems to know all the scandal of the social classes and is intrigued by the mysterious lady in Newland's fiance's opera box.....
As I read this book The Age Of innocence I find the characters to be very human and likable. The first character I am introduced to is Newland Archer. Newland is quite young and working as a lawyer in New York City, he also happens to be engaged to a lady named May Welland a socialite with old money. He seems to be more physically attracted to May rather than emotionally he however is fond of her i just can't tell at this point if it is love.As he watches an opera he looks over at her and begins to have thoughts of their wedding.He is also more concerned in social status, and society in general as are his two friends.He seems to be a conformist not following his own thoughts but the thoughts of society.May from what i can tell has little depth and real emotion for her fiancee', she lacks experience and is portrayed in a very innocent, virginal way (7).I began to get the feeling that their matrimony was purely for social reasons not for love and was how things worked at the time of the 1870s.
Newland's friends are of some interest.They seem to know all the goings on of their surroundings. They know who is of social class and what importance they have. They seem to act as Newland's 'wing men' and don't seem to be of great importance. Their names are Lawrence Lefferts and Sillerton Jackson. Lawrence seems to be more of a l man concerend with looks as we can tell by the quote of a previous admirer (9) and Jackson seems to know all the scandal of the social classes and is intrigued by the mysterious lady in Newland's fiance's opera box.....
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