Quote

I never lose. I either win or I learn.

Sonnet Practice

My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips' red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damask'd, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
As any she belied with false compare.

Determine whether it's Petrarchan or Shakespearean.  Explain where the shift is and how it influences the overall theme and tone of the work.  

1.  Petrarchan Sonnet: "a sonnet form popularized by Petrarch, consisting of an octave with the rhyme scheme abbaabba and of a sestet with one of several rhyme schemes, as cdecde or cdcdcd."
2. Shakespearean Sonnet: "a sonnet form used by Shakespeare and having the rhyme scheme  abab, cdcd, efef, gg." 

By the rhyming scheme it is easy to see that this is a Shakespearean Sonnet, it follows the rhyming pattern, as stated in the definition, directly and exactly. The shift in the sonnet begins at "And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare" and ends with "As any she belied with false compare." At this point in the sonnet the narrator ceases to describe the person as regular, or as nothing special, because at first it was as though everything in the world was better than her. At this point, although it is the end, the narrator ceases to critique the woman and her looks and instead focuses on his love for her. It changes the theme to something of romantic aspirations, the tone changes to a more loving one, one that forgives flaws, or comparisons to other people, and instead focuses on the one person they (the narrator) truly loves.

Macbeth Essay ~ Afterthoughts

After doing the essay, I felt a little more confident, not going to lie. I wrote and okay essay, similar to my other essays, in under the 30 minutes. And yes, I am sure it was 30 minutes because I actually timed myself. Does the time necessarily mean I will do well on the AP test next Wednesday? Of course not, but I wrote a mediocre essay in the time given. To be quite honest, I would have written this essay sooner if I had understood the prompt, but I didn't. At least not until Preston explained it to 5th period today. The huge ass quote before the actual prompt seemed to throw me off, but I was able to incorporate slivers of it here and there in my actual essay. Like always, I seem to reiterate things I say within my essay, definitely something I need to work on for the test, and for college essays. I also chose to not write the essay on Macbeth, I chose Lady Macbeth because I felt like I, specifically, could argue it a lot better. I may have done this essay "wrong" or "incorrectly," but Preston also said that this essay was meant to show us the constraints we will have on the real test, a sort of simulation. Overall, my writing needs major improvements, and it always will (there's always room for improvement).

Masterpiece Progress.

Currently looking for people willing to help with interviewing this year's senior class. Harder/longer process than I expected.

So far people have been extremely honest, and  I have learned multiple new things about even my best/closest friends. This process has shown me that questions are very important, even if your asking them to people you thought you knew everything about. I hope this project does give a little bit of insight to the lives of others. And that people realize that we have different backgrounds, different primary languages, different skin color, yet we face similar struggles, we face similar situations. But we must also realize that people react differently to similar situations. This is an eye opening experience, and it really drives home the message of appearance vs reality.

If anyone wishes to help out, email me at l25pliego@gmail.com (lowecase L, not a one), or leave a comment with your email and I will add you to the "RHS Seniors" BLOG.

Mabeth Act V ~ Study Questions

5.11. The gentlewoman has witnessed Lady Macbeth doing things in her sleep, like getting up and writing a letter. She doesn't want to reveal what Lady Macbeth says, and isn't sure if the Doctor will believe her.

2. Lady Macbeth reveals that she has murderous blood on her hands, and she feels as though she cannot rid herself of the blood and its smell. In a way she reveals that she and Macbeth planned Banquo's death or that they have been highly affected by his death and fear his ghost. The Doctor seems to be relating this to the unnatural, maybe to the witches.
 
5.21. The soldiers are heading near Birnam Wood to meet Malcolm, Siward, and Macduff. The mentions of Birnam Wood and Dunsinane remind us of one of the apparitions from the witches, the third one that told Macbeth no danger would come to him until both of these areas come against him.

5.31. The servants bring reports that Malcolm has organized an army and an attack against Macbeth. Macbeth says he is not afraid because the spirits told him that no man born from a woman would have power over him. He thinks of himself as fearless and powerful.

2. The Doctor says Lady Macbeth is troubled and is unable to sleep. Macbeth wishes the Doctor could remove those agonizing memories from her bosom, remove anything that is harming her or give her some type of anecdote to forget what makes her restless and troubled.

5.41. Malcolm tells the soldiers to bring before Macbeth a bough, to pretend as though they are the woods moving towards Macbeth. This will confuse Macbeth greatly and give him the idea that he is going mad.
5.51. "The cry of women" signifies that something has gone terribly wrong. In his famous speech Macbeth is saying that life is useless, you live an unfruitful life only to die, life goes at an irrelevant pace, full of insignificant details. He truly believes life is useless, that we are given the chance to prance about for an hour on the glorious stage, and then it is all taken from us. Life is a shadow, far from the appearance it gives. At this point he feels life is not worth living without his wife, without her he has no sense of direction for life.
2. The messenger brings the news that the woods are moving, slowly creeping towards Macbeth. Macbeth is angered by this' foolish' piece of news, and believes the witches have lied and deceived him. His mood at the end of the scene is ready to fight, armed and in a sense prepared. He will not go out with a whimper, he wants to put on a fight.
 
5.61. In this scene we learn that the men were being the tree branches. Siward and his son are in the first line of battle, Macduff and Malcolm are taking up what other thing is left to do. 

5.71. At the beginning of the scene Macbeth's attitude can be classified as hopeless, yet prepared to defend himself. In his encounter with Young Siward Macbeth is once again called a tyrant, a battle follows and Young Siward is killed.

5.8 
1. Macduff is looking for Macbeth, he wants to slay him himself in order to rid himself of the guilt of having left his family defenseless.
5.9 
1. Malcolm and Siward are able to enter the castle so easily because it is not very protected, most of the men are out fighting. 

5.10 
1. Macduff delivers the information that he was born by "c-section" and technically not "from a woman." Macbeth responds by saying he will not fight. He fights because he does not want to become a servant to Malcolm, he does not want to kiss the dirt at his feet, and in this instance rather die than be showcased as a tyrant. 

5.11 
1. Siward is not very upset, instead he sees it as a great honor to die during battle defending a cause. He even says "he's worth no more" sorrow.
2. Malcolm promises his followers titles, and the return of exiled friends. He also says Lady Macbeth took her own life. Should we believe him? It is possible, the pressure and the secrets seemed to be getting to her, but it was also a fight for power and she might have been offed. 

Macbeth's Way of Ruling ~ Today's Journal Topic

Revisit today's journal topic on your blog through the eyes of the author. What literary/characterization techniques does Shakespeare use to suggest how Macbeth will rule?  Use textual examples to illustrate your claims.  

I feel as though Shakespeare is trying to transmit the message that Macbeth is a controllable yet tyrannical leader. The reader is easily able to see he is controllable or easily persuaded through multiple instances/people. For example, the only reason he killed Duncan was because his wife basically forced him to; the only reason he deeply desired to be thane and king was because the witches mentioned it to him. Macbeth is really good at following orders, even if his conscience warns him against future actions. Shakespeare seems to be calling Macbeth a tyrant in very simple terms. In two conversations within the first four acts, Macbeth has been referred to as a tyrant. This may just be how people portray him, but his actions don't necessarily speak otherwise. An honest, rightful, and essentially "good" King would not murder for power, he would not murder people out of fear of being overthrown, he would not murder the family & servants of a man thought to be a traitor. 

Macbeth Act IV ~ Active Reading Notes

Scene 1:

• Setting/surroundings: similar to those of when the witches first appeared, creates a dark/ominous tone 
• "Double, double toil and trouble./Fire burn, and cauldron bubble." > this simple song has been used in so many other forms in current culture; what came to mind as soon as I read the line was Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, it has also been used in popular shows like Supernatural and such
• Witches are creating some sort of potion(may be for Macbeth), they are being instructed by Hecate
• Macbeth enters and asks what they are doing; witches do not reply directly and instead ask if he wants to speak to their masters
• First apparition > armed head  > warns Macbeth of Macduff, the thane of Fife
• Second apparition > bloody child > says that none will do harm to Macbeth
• Third apparition > crowned child > says he will not be vanquished until "Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill/Shall come against him."
• show of 8 kings, the last being Banquo, appears > showing the line of kings, Banquo's children being included(?)
• witches vanish, Lennox says he did not see them go; notice that Macduff has fled to England reaches Macbeth's ears
• Macbeth planning to attack Macduff's castle in Fife, orders all family and people found to be killed

Scene 2:

• Lady Macduff angry/worried at her husband having left, noting that this suspicious travel will make them look like traitors
• direct characterization of Macduff: "He is noble, wise, judicious"
• simile: live as the birds do - off what is given to them > Son to Lady Macduff
• indirect characterization of Lady Macduff: "Why, I can buy me twenty at any market." (speaking of husbands) as well as "If he were dead, you'ld weep for/him: if you would not, it were a good sign/that I should quickly have a new father.
• Lady Macduff reveals to her Son that his father was a traitor
• Messenger comes in and warns Lady Macduff to take her kids and leave
• Murderers enter and kill the Son while Lady Macduff runs off

Scene 3:

• Malcolm and Macduff speaking, Malcolm calls Macduff a tyrant
• Malcolm seems to want to murder Macbeth
• Malcolm is testing Macduff's loyalty and trustworthiness
• Doctor mentions a disease of some sort, called "the evil"
• Ross appears telling the men that people have been slaughtered, but that Macduff's family is fine (as last seen by Ross) > then Ross reveals that they too have been killed
• Macduff then agrees to join in the fighting and to take personal revenge on Macbeth> urged on by Malcolm

mactwist

Imagine how the plot, theme, and tone of Macbeth would be different if Macbeth could gain more power by becoming good at something or learning something, rather than benefiting through another's loss.

If Macbeth could achieve value through obtaining an ability, becoming an expert at something, simply becoming a better human being, the entire plot, theme, and tone would change drastically. Macbeth would achieve a higher standing in society without having to drench his hands in the blood of the innocent, he would have no need to murder whether it be to get a higher standing or to remove a "threat." Macbeth would have no need to create a loss for someone, he would have no need to benefit from any negative situations. Themes would also change because things like "foul is fair, fair is foul," and appearance vs reality no longer truly fit. It would instead seem to turn to a moral lesson-type story, or something along the lines of achieving one's true purpose, or about making oneself the best one can become, etc. The tone would go from dark, ambiguous, and cruel to something a bit more cheerful, powerful, honest or enlightening. If the entire plot of Macbeth changed, their would be no conflict among the characters, external conflict would be nonexistent, instead internal conflict would come into play. Internal conflict would occur in a very distinct way as it currently does in the story, Macbeth would not be paranoid and pondering whether he should murder his best friend, instead he would be weighing pros and cons of situations, where to go in a situations, etc. 

Macbeth Act III ~ Active Reading Notes

Scene 1:

• Banquo seems to believe foul play was involved in Macbeth's "fate"
• Macbeth seems to be spreading the rumor that Duncan's sons are the true murderers that have run away from justice
• Macbeth's lunacy has begun; he seems to believe Banquo wants to replace him
• Allusion: Macbeth = Caesar, Banquo = Mark Anthony
• Macbeth has hired to murderers to deal with Banquo and his son Fleance
• Repetition: when mentioning the death of a characters hell and heaven are always mentioned, bidding farewell to the soul and saying "hopefully you can find yourself in heaven"

Scene 2:

• Metaphor: "Full of scorpions is my mind" - head full of cruel/evil thoughts
• Macbeth tells his wife that others are trouble and they must be murdered, he tells her to at innocent of the knowledge

Scene 3:

• The three murders complete half their job, Fleance gets away

Scene 4:

• Setting: Macbeth's dinner/party
• motif: the image of a snake keeps appearing
• Murders tell Macbeth that Banquo's son has escaped
• Banquo appears at the dinner and takes Macbeth's seat
• Macbeth releases his guest as his wife sees him acting bizarre
• Macbeth will go visit the witches tomorrow to know what remains of his story, he will do all in his power to remain king

Scene 5:

• Hecate reprimands the three witches for meddling with Macbeth and something as huge as death
• Hecate is "the mistress of their charms"
• Hecate tells the witches that Macbeth will hear fake prophecies, bringing him false security and plenty confusion
• "security /Is mortals' chiefest enemy"

Scene 6: 

• in a conversation between Lennox and a Lord we find out that Fleance is blamed for the death of his father (Banquo); they also reveal that Macbeth is rendered a tyrant
• from the conversation we also learn that Macduff has asked the English King for aid in waging a war against the tyrant

Act II Study Questions

2.1
1. The purpose of the 9 first opening lines are to give a clue that Banquo is suspicious and may have an idea of what Macbeth is hoping to accomplish. The discussion of the witches, brought up by Banquo, is to let audience and character Macbeth know that he has not forgotten the prophecy. It is further proof that Banquo is thinking or wondering about what Macbeth is going to do. 

2. In Macbeth's soliloquy he seems to speak of a weapon that may be created by his imagination, he is unsure if it is truly there, or if he should kill the King. Macbeth explains what is happening by saying his mind is overworked and stressed out, and that his sight is failing him. He still plans on murdering the King.

2.2
1. She is drunk with angst. Lady Macbeth did her part of the plan, she drugged the King's men and laid out their daggers for Macbeth to see. She assumes Macbeth is completing the deed at the very moment.

2. Macbeth has killed the King. Macbeth is worried that the two men woke up and saw him with the blood of the King on his hands; he is also worried about his moral condition. Lady Macbeth remnds him not to worry about it, and to not think so much upon it. The issue that arises in line 46 is that Macbeth carried back the daggers with him. The problem is solved by Lady Macbeth, she delivers the daggers to the sleeping attendants of the King and says she will smear blood on them if necessary. 

2.3
1. The porter pretends to be porter for the gates of hell.

What does the porter pretend to be doing? Notice the emphasis on equivocation in this speech and in the following dialogue with Macduff. Equivocation was a doctrine espoused by Jesuits living secretly in England (and in danger of arrest, torture, and death) that allowed them to swear oaths with double meanings in order to preserve their lives while also maintaining their faith but that looked to their opponents very much like lying under oath. Equivocation had recently been much discussed because of the trials surrounding the Gunpowder Plot of November 1605, a Catholic attempt to blow up Parliament while the members and the King were present. 

2. The thematic function of the conversation between Lenox and Macbeth is that it shows others noticed an oddness about the night, as if someone had committed a murder. The theatrical function of the scene is to showcase Macbeth's ability to hide the face of murderer, and to allow the audience to understand that nobody yet knows about the King's death. The conversation is necessary for the reasons stated before.

3. Macduff reports that the King has been murdered. Macbeth and his Lady respond by acting like it is a tragedy.  Lady Macbeth seems more concerned that it occurred in her house than of the actual murder. Macbeth reports that he killed the men. Malcolm and Donalbain decide to leave before someone tries to seize and murder them, too. The two sons of the past King will go away, Malcom to England, Donalbain to Ireland. 

2.4
1. The function of the dialogue between Old Man and Ross is to show that people are noticing odd things about the night, even something like the behavior of Duncan's horses. From Macduff we learn that Macolm and Donalbain have fled, this fact makes them suspicious of committing the crime. We also learn that Macbeth killed the two men who were servants to Duncan, we also learn that Macbeth has already been named King. Macbeth is already gone to Scone. Macduff will go to Fife. 

Macbeth Character Map

Another resource I found was THIS website. It gives a detailed description of all the characters (to my knowledge) and also has links to quotes from them.

A student made Prezi can be found HERE. It has small, quick descriptions of characters, and also shows the relationship between each character.

Act I Study Questions

1.1
1. Beginning the play with the witches allows the reader to envision that the story is cruel, dark, and ambiguous. It also gives the reader a sense of an existing theme "Fair is foul, and foul is fair." The witches are going to meet Macbeth, which is seen later in the play as a scene. The witches also mention that they will meet him when the war has been won and lost, and when the sun sets. 

1.2
1. From the "bloody Captain" we learn about Macbeth's killing spree during the war. It is also easy to take notice that his actions are glorified and that he is seen as a brave hero. Macdonwald is a man "worthy to be a rebel," he also made an attack on them. Macbeth killed Macdonwald, cutting him with his sword and putting his head on a stake in their battlements. This did not end the problem with the rebels, they regrouped, fresh men joined, and "began a fresh assault."

2. Ross and Angus let Duncan know that Norweyan flags fill the sky, and that the traitor is the Thane of Cawdor himself. Duncan is glad that the Thane of Cawdor was dealt with and executed, he explains "Great Happiness" after hearing that they are victorious. Duncan also gladly tells his men to give the title of Thane of Cawdor to Macbeth. 

1.3
1. The witches provide the reader with a glimpse into the life of Macbeth. The specifics mention how Lady Macbeth ultimately controls her husband, she has total power over him, and this detail is very important to the plot. The witches prepare for Macbeth's arrival by singing a chant all together. They say at the very end that the chant is a charm and has been completed. 

2. Macbeth's first line reminds me of a phrase the witches said at the beginning, "fair is foul, and foul is fair." The witches look as though they are not from this world, they wear a withered, old, and wild attire. Banquo is unable to decipher their gender, they look somewhat like woman but presence of a beard on all of their faces throws him off. The witches call Macbeth Thane of Glaims and of Cawdor. Macbeth gains interest in their words, we can tell by the way he asks them to say more. Banquo asks for his own prophecy, but he receives the response of "Hail!,"
as well as being told that he is greater/lesser than Macbeth. We know that Macbeth really is going to be Thane of Cawdor before he himself knows it.

3. Banquo believes that the witches are a figment of their imagination, or that they have only hallucinated. From Ross and Angus Macbeth learns that he now holds the title of Thane of Cawdor. In lines 114-156 Macbeth is rationalizing with himself, pondering whether he should be incredulous, yet he begins to think he will be king soon.

4. He doesn't want to share any of his plan with Banquo. Macbeth simply tells his friend that he is confused, and that his brain is filled with other things. 

1.4
1. Cawdor was executed for his crime of treason. The King responds by saying that Cawdor had his full trust, and that one cannot base a man's feelings by the look on the man's face.

2. Duncan greets Macbeth and Banquo with the greeting "O worthiest cousin." Duncan also mentions that he is forever grateful to them. Duncan announces that he will leave everything to Malcom, Prince of Cumberland. King Duncan then intends to go to Macbeth's castle. Macbeth reacts to the announcement by commenting in his aside that this is a big dent in his plan, he must now also get rid of Malcom if he desires to be King. Macbeth is thinking of how to accomplish this task.

1.5
1. Macbeth reports everything that has occurred accurately to his wife, he leaves nothing of significance out. She responds by saying that he must do what needs to be done.

2. She asks whether Macbeth arrives with him, and knows that he brings great news. Lady Macbeth intends to make Macbeth follow through with the plan. In order for this to happen she calls upon the spirits to make her cruel and to stop any remorse that may occur.

3. Lady Macbeth is in charge when Macbeth arrives. His wife has definitely decided what to do, and she is aware that she might have to convince Macbeth of the plan. Macbeth still seems to be unsure, he questions the plan and all the details. Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth that she must not let King Duncan see light of another day. 

4. Lady Macbeth's name is Gruoch. She had a son by a previous marriage, named Lulach. 

1.6
1. Lady Macbeth's welcome is fake and not meant to be trusted by the reader/audience. Lady Macbeth's form of speech has taken on a softer tone, one that says "I am at your service," which is very dishonest. Her welcome is done with reason behind it though.

1.7
1. Macbeth is as prepared as he is going to get. It seems as though he will always have that worry, that bit of guilt and remorse in the back of his mind. In lines 1-12 he is worried about people finding out, about people knowing the King was murdered under his home, and of the consequences his actions may have. The special rule of hospitality that he is violating twice, for being kinsman and subject, is that of shutting the doors against people who want to cause harm to the King, and brandishing the killing arm himself. 

2. Lady Macbeth complains about Macbeth leaving Duncan alone, for leaving the chambers so near to the time of supper.  Macbeth wonders whether the King has asked for him, Lady Macbeth replies that he should have known so. Macbeth wishes to stop the murder of Duncan, he says that the King has honored him recently, Macbeth is hesitant. The stronger character in this scene is Lady Macbeth.

"False face must hide what the false heart doth know."

appearance vs. reality

LOVE IS BLIND

Macbeth seems to think that his wife is only attempting to aid him, to turn things to his favor, and to make him a great and known man. He never once considers the idea that his lady is controlling him; he believes that she is really only attempting to bring him his well deserved honor more rapidly. Macbeth is a weak man. He constantly attempts to forget this crazy plan wondering what will happen if they fail, or how the people will react, or if people will assume it was he who committed the crime, but he is soon coaxed to forget these "irrational" and "cowardly" ideas. Lady Macbeth is quite crazy, irrational, and controlling; she forces her beloved husband to continue with the plan of murder. When he tries to chicken-out she begins to call him names, saying he is not a man, that he is a coward, and that she herself could do it. The audience and reader see Lady Macbeth as immoral and cruel because she is encouraging her husband to murder an innocent man in order to receive power. Lady Macbeth is a harm to Macbeth and those around her. Her murder plan, made to frame Duncan's officers, may also harm her own husband's reputation. In a sense she is also selfish, her husband will have the power, but she has the power to control him.

WHAT ABOUT MY MASTERPIECE?

My progress is slow but I have begun to interview people. I currently have taken down the blog until I have a good number of posts. The blog will go back up when I feel it has enough content, and once it includes people from diverse backgrounds and stories. Progress is slow with this project because the people who said they would help me and I have busy schedules. Classes, extracurricular activities, AP prep, has taken up a grand portion of our time. I'm hoping to knock out multiple interviews this week though. Gotta speed up this process, yet have quality and personable work.

If anyone is interested in this project and wants to help, please let me know. (:

Meet Macbeth

Macbeth is introduced first through the eyes of Sergeant, who uses both indirect and direct characterization. Sergeant describes Macbeth as brave, while Duncan calls him 'valiant' and 'worthy.' Macbeth's described actions provide us with more insight into who he is, and what kind of character/person he is. His inhumane actions, the brutal murder he committed, and the way he treats the dead man's body shows who he is. Macbeth, through indirect characterization, seems cruel and out only to help himself. He also seems easy to control and in a sense gullible, he eats up the witches words without questioning, quickly accepting them as true. The witches provide the idea that an event will happen to Macbeth, and Macbeth believing he is worthy makes it occur. Shakespeare gives enough detail and background information for the reader to be informed of the entire plot. He does this through his characters, some scenes of the play, even up to this point, are purely two characters speaking about another character's background, or events that have occurred, etc. Dialogue is the main source of information, it is what allows us to know what the characters plan to do next. The witches are a large source for telling about the plot without giving away too much.

Macbeth is described in a gory sense, yet he is also described as valiant, brave, and in a sense, worthy. The tone mostly seems to be as seeing characters and such as worthy, honorable, respectable. Themes such as "fair is foul, and foul is fair," will be main sources to drive the rest of the play. Macbeth does not play fair, he murders to gain his position and to keep moving up the ranks. His actions aren't necessarily "fair," they are foul, yet he manages to get what he wants, and what his prophecy from the witches said. 

2014 Most Challenged Books

http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-challenged-banned-books-2014-20150413-story.html

A ridiculous list with a bunch of bull shit reasons behind the attempted bans. Things such as violence, rape, masturbation, foul language, homosexuality. We are exposed to these things anyway, they occur on a daily basis. Honestly? How can a book be banned for things that occur constantly. Parents want to "protect" their children, so they don't want their kids to read a memoir from a kidnap and rape survivor? They don't want their Kid learnig about bullying, and not to do it?

My Macbeth Resources

1. Macbeth Study Guide - includes summaries, annotations, commentary. It includes things such as character introductions, explanations for figurative language, and explanation for each soliloquy.

2. YouTube Macbeth summary, courtesy of benben8it.

3. Macbeth I Index - provides background of Shakespeare himself,  historical background of the story, explanation of themes, literary devices, and characters, as well as providing assessment tasks. 

4. Macbeth Theme Page - a page full of links to resources, including synopses, explanations, translations, character analysis.

5. Macbeth Introduction

Macbeth - Tomorrow & Tomorrow & Tomorrow Soliloquy

She should have died hereafter;
There would have been a time for such a word.
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

Prose Essay ~ Young Goodman Brown

"Young Goodman Brown"

From the start of the story we see Goodman Brown's unmistakable regret at having to run this errand, we see his mind struggling to leave his wife, named Faith, and complete the meeting and task. We see him question why he must leave, and if indeed he should, but he still finds himself baring farewell and walking off into the woods to meet his companion. From the start Goodman Brown question his actions, yet his conformity on the outside shows that he has no control, no other choice, or no sense of helping himself.

Goodman Brown's inability to help himself by questioning outwardly causes him harm, confusion, doubt, and even guilt in the end. Faith, whether speaking of his wife or his actual belief, was the only thing that "kept him back awhile." But it did not hold him for long, he continued to follow his path, to do as he was told, even while the voice in his head questioned. Throughout the story the reader is able to note Brown's indecisiveness, his being unsure, as his voice "tremors." In the middle of the story we see how Brown hopes to break the chain and path that his ancestors have taken. He yells at his companion telling him that it is "too far, too far." At one point he goes on to shout that his "mind is made up. Not another step will I budge on this errand." But his expression of outward conformity is soon squashed as the companion, the devil, leaves him alone and creates the sound of Faith,whether the person or his belief, being harmed. At this point Brown gives in, seeing as there is no option, his faith has been destroyed, and he sees no point in resisting the sin of this world, therefore he calls upon the devil, and continues his errand. At the point where Goodman Brown clearly associates himself with forms of evil by saying "Come witch, come wizard, come Indian powwow, come devil himself, and here comes Goodman Brown," he has become one with them, his resistance is up, and he has conformed outwardly and inwardly.

The reader is also able to detect that many in the town, even those thought to be holy and goodhearted, those that often go by "Good ----" are those who have encountered and treated with the "snake-staffed" man the most. The name Good, used to refer to more than just our main character is one of the biggest ironies in the story. Under no circumstance would these townsfolk nor their actions be classified as good. Most have walked with the pure form of the devil and of control itself,  outward conformity leading internal questioning to disperse. The companion in the woods is the epitome of overall power, "he of the serpent." The snake is a symbol often used to represent the enticing leader, the controller. All the town folk had conformed, they did not experience, or no longer experienced, any inward questioning, "It was strange to see that the good shrank not from the wicked, nor were the sinners abashed by the saints," they were all the same, they all behaved similarly, under someone else's control.

"But where is Faith?" This simple phrase holds a double meaning. Where is the faith when faith itself has abandoned one, when faith itself is seen at the celebration of sin, where is faith? Goodman Brown, once failing to question his errand, fails for the rest of his life to question outwardly the blasphemy and lies of the entire village.

Battle of the Blogs Info.

The Battle of the Blogs Polls are posted on the SPHINX page.

Instructions on how to work the polls are directly beside the polls.




PS. Continue to leave your constructive criticism for my blog here. Thank you. (:

Poetry Essay

Prompt: Write an essay in which you relate the imagery of the last stanza to the speaker’s view of himself and his situation earlier in the poem.

Poem: "The Weary Blues" by Langston Hughes

Why I chose the prompt with this poem: I felt the prompt fit quite well, the last stanza of Hughes poem provides imagery comparing the character to a rock or a dead man, and the entire poem depicts a man in complete depression/loneliness. 

Langston Hughes depicts everything his character is, and everything his character is feeling in the last stanza of his poem "The Weary Blues." Hughes clearly shows how the immense sadness and grief found throughout the whole poem, as well as the loneliness experienced by the piano-playing character will lead him to a profound, if not eternal, sleep. But the emotions experienced at the end may have an even deeper meaning than first meets the eye. 

The situation in the poem depicts a man singing the Blues on Lenox Avenue. This Avenue which is located in Harlem is, for some, the most important street for African Americans and other minority groups. It was a street that managed to connect Hispanics, African Americans, West Indians, and even the British through a love of cultural food and jazz music. In the poem "The Weary Blues," Hughes depicts the emotion of loneliness and depression through the melody of displaced accents and beat of the song. The African American man is depicted as depressed through the entire poem. Hughes clearly writes that the man played a "syncopated tune," a tune where strong beats become weak, and weak beats become strong. This change in accents in beat may allude to the idea that the musician wishes things would reverse, or that at least equality would ring for all people. That the weak would no longer be suppressed by those who are "strong." The tone Hughes uses makes the reader envision a lonely man, the song he sings clearly stating that he feels as though he "Ain't got nobody in all this world." Music has always been a prime form of expression, and this Blues singer and musician expresses the true extent of his emotions through the song that is relentlessly alluded to in the poem. All of this may have to do with the context of the poem, a time when African Americans and minorities were still struggling to get a foothold on "white" society. The reason for this man's sadness may very well be the treatment he receives for being of a different culture, color, and race. 

The last stanza consists of a man laying down to a sleep, but this is a man who is ready for death. The piano player says he is not satisfied, that he will never be satisfied, and that he would much prefer to face his death. In his last stanza Hughes clearly tells the reader the emotion that has been strung throughout the length of the poem, "I ain't happy no mo'/And I wish that I had died." This unsatisfied feeling may come from not being treated as an equal, being looked down upon as an inferior, etc. Even in his slumber, the man cannot escape the injustice, as the Blues continue to play in his mind throughout the night. 

The repetition of sad emotions, the inclusion of Blues song lyrics, and the diction and style of this poem allow the reader to experience an actual Blues tone, tempo, and the state of mind of the artist. Hughes poem depicts more than just a sad man wishing to die, he reveals the injustices that minorities went and continue to go through, he creates a lyrical form of criticizing society, as well as showcasing the true form of the Blues. 

Spring Reading

Only now have I divulged into the world of Twilight. I had attempted to keep away from the series because of the over-hype and fervor it created back in 2005 when the series first came out, and then the fan fiction based on it only made me recoil even further. But yesterday I began reading it. Let me explain though. I only came upon these books because a teacher handed them to me and said "You can have them." I'm not one to turn down books so even seeing it was Twilight, I gladly took them off her hands. I must also be honest in saying I waited until I finished a book I actually wanted to read, and until the boredom was unbearable to begin to read them. But as I began to read, and as I quickly forgot the actors who had played Bell and Edward, and as I forgot the movie entirely, I was actually able to enjoy the story. 

I have finished the novel, all 498 pages. I must admit that these books are neither badly written, nor do they have a terrible story line. In one day I managed to get through half the book rather quickly, I was entrapped, engulfed by the scenes that played out in my mind. After reading the first novel I don't find it to be as terrible as I thought, it is actually a lot better than I expected. 

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"The Weary Blues" by Langston Hughes

Droning a drowsy syncopated tune,

Rocking back and forth to a mellow croon,

      I heard a Negro play.

Down on Lenox Avenue the other night

By the pale dull pallor of an old gas light

      He did a lazy sway. . . .

      He did a lazy sway. . . .

To the tune o’ those Weary Blues.

With his ebony hands on each ivory key

He made that poor piano moan with melody.

      O Blues!

Swaying to and fro on his rickety stool

He played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool.

      Sweet Blues!

Coming from a black man’s soul.

      O Blues!

In a deep song voice with a melancholy tone

I heard that Negro sing, that old piano moan—

      “Ain’t got nobody in all this world,

      Ain’t got nobody but ma self.

      I’s gwine to quit ma frownin’

      And put ma troubles on the shelf.”

Thump, thump, thump, went his foot on the floor.

He played a few chords then he sang some more—

      “I got the Weary Blues

      And I can’t be satisfied.

      Got the Weary Blues

      And can’t be satisfied—

      I ain’t happy no mo’

      And I wish that I had died.”

And far into the night he crooned that tune.

The stars went out and so did the moon.

The singer stopped playing and went to bed

While the Weary Blues echoed through his head.

He slept like a rock or a man that’s dead.

"and wow reading is weird"