Haiku Extra Credit

Brows

hairy it may be
bushy above its curving
countless expressions
________
Snailing

dries under the sun
trailing while it travels far
continues, then crashed
_____
Loose

comfy to wear in
it is easy to take down
tighten when it falls

DRJ #4: Hamlet, Act IV & Act V

DRJ #4: Hamlet, Act IV & Act V

            When Claudius knew that the people would hate him for having Hamlet punished, it reminded me of this one episode of “Hey Arnold” where all the girls were trying to bring down the popular, nice girl because everyone liked her. It isn’t exactly the same because Claudius wants Hamlet dead so that he is safe, where as these girls want to bring her down and embarrass her because they are jealous. Either way they were going to be hated by others for doing such things. I’ve mentioned Ophelia many times but I can kind of relate to how she feels since she is a female. She’s driven insane by Hamlet’s insanity. Ophelia was obviously in love with Hamlet, and seeing being insane and cruel to her caused it. Love hurts.

            Hamlet is the true tragic hero of his story. His father is dies because his uncle kills him for power and his uncle also takes away his mother and they get married. It’s pretty cruel for him to go through such a conflict and it hurts even more. He definitely fits the role of a tragic hero, because even I as an audience character feel bad for what he goes through and the insanity that is caused by his pain. Hamlet blames himself for not moving forward into taking revenge on his uncle. His flaw is that he does not take action into revenge right away, he puts it off and doesn’t make a decision until the last minute.
          At this point I feel as if the theme in Acts IV and V are about Life and Death. Hamlet says, (Act IV, Scene IV Lines 53-55) “Is not to stir without great argument, But greatly to find quarrel in a straw, When honor’s at the stake,” Hamlet was talking about how these two countries who are wealthy and at peace would cause war between each other over a small piece of land, they will fight for their pride. All these characters fight for their pride, for their wants and they die in the end. Shakespeare uses symbolism through the gravedigger digging a grave. The gravedigger and the other man talk about how Ophelia killed herself. This is important because she allowed herself to die, she didn’t drown so technically she shouldn’t be having a proper burial, but she is rich so she can have one. Then the final battle takes place in which everyone bets on either Hamlet or Laertus. Gertrude drinks the poison, Hamlet and Laetrus stab each other and Hamlet stabs Claudius. Later on Guildenstern and Rosencrantz are executed. All of this happens because each of their motives and they tried to get to their own wants and satisfaction. Laertus had a grudge over Hamlet, Gertrude wanted Hamlet to be normal again. Hamlet and Claudius wanted each other dead and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern wounded up being puppets. They were all fools and died in the end. Horatio was the only one alive to tell about the lives they lived and why and how they died. 

DRJ #3: Hamlet, Act III

Even though we are much farther into the book, I still can’t think of anyone in my life, or movies that remind me of the characters in Hamlet. I might be able to pull out some familiar predicament I may have seen in my life that characters have gone through. Ophelia’s situation is somewhat similar to what boys and girls go through every day. There are many different relationships between males in females. In this case, Hamlet is a complete and utter jerk to Ophelia, and Ophelia takes it on but it still hurts her.  There are abusive relationships in which boys are abusive the girls. I’ve seen relationships in which they tease each other or if they’re best friends they’ll be mean to each other and call each other names. Males in general will call a female beautiful/fair which Hamlet does, but he’s still pretty cruel to her by calling her a whore.

            Claudius is definitely an interesting kind of villain. He knows what he did was wrong but he accepts it and in this case he prays and asks for forgiveness. In stories I’ve seen or read, the antagonist did what they did on purpose but I don’t usually see them praying for forgiveness because they are pure evil. There are some instances in which the antagonist realize their wrong and turn to good. Sometimes they’ll ask for forgiveness just for their life to be saved and when I think about it now maybe that’s what Claudius wants. Claudius has caused the conflict of the story which sets the plot for the story. He knows what he did was wrong. He murdered his brother so he could take the throne from him and have power. Then he took away his brother’s wife because he lusts for her. He took Hamlet’s parents away which is the cause for Hamlet’s insanity.

            I definitely see the Good/Evil theme in Act III. (Lines 98-99, Act III, Scene III) Claudius rises after he finishes his prayer and says, “My words fly up, my thoughts remain below.

Words without thoughts never to heaven go,” Claudius accepts that he has sinned and done evil. He does feel guilt for what he did and asks forgiveness, but in the end admits that even though he says he asks for forgiveness, it sounds like he doesn’t actually mean it. Claudius in the end is evil. I feel like all these characters are cruel to each other. Hamlet sees Claudius praying and realizes that if he kills him now he would go to Heaven. Hamlet does not want that, he wants proper revenge so that Claudius can go to hell for what he did. Hamlet wanting to kill is just as evil as well. Good can’t exist without Evil. 

DRJ #2: Hamlet Act II

DRJ #2: Hamlet Act 2

            Polonius reminds me of this extremely over protective father because he cares so much about Laertus and Ophelia. It’s like in movies when the dad will do or say anything to check up on their kid. Polonius’ way of doing so is having someone check on Laertus and telling Ophelia to keep Hamlet away from her. Ophelia’s situation also reminds me of everyday life when boys try to court the girls but the girls don’t like the boy or their parents forbid the girl from dating. I can’t tell if Phelia like’s Hamlet but she’s really obedient to her father.

            I think of Polonius as Claudius’ henchman, he’s not exactly a main antagonist or villain but he is motivated by his own personal interest. He doesn’t do anything that’s evil, he only takes action on what he cares about, like having Reynaldo spy on his son, which is a violation of Laertus privacy. He also tries to ruin Laertus’ reputation. Polonius also thinks Hamlet is crazy and tells the King everything about Hamlet that Ophelia tells Polonius. Polonius even suggests that the King should spy on Ophelia and Hamlet by hiding behind curtains. I think it’s funny, but his actions show is loyalty to the King and his involvement with Hamlet and father role to his kids.

            The theme that takes place in Act Two is one’s sanity/suicide. There is a lot of concern over Hamlet’s craziness. Polonius already sees Hamlet as crazy because he believes Hamlet is in love with Ophelia. He proves this to the king by showing him the letters Hamlet wrote to Ophelia. (Line 54-55 Act II Scene 2). Claudius says to Gertrude, “He (Polonius) tells me my dear Gertrude he hath found the head and source of all your son’s distemper.” Another line, line 100 “That he is mad, “tis true. Tis true, it’s pity,” Polonius says. Claudius is also concerned by Hamlet’s well being for the sake of Gertrude’s happiness. They believe the reason why Hamlet is upset is because of the marriage which is very true and caused a lot of trouble to Hamlet but it’s also because of what the Ghost told Hamlet. Claudius has Hamlet’s childhood friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern find out what is wrong with Hamlet. Hamlet’s sanity fuels the character’s actions in the story. Hamlet himself is truly upset and is unhappy, especially after meeting the ghost. He does show signs of suicide with his negativity and saying he wants to step “into his grave,” (Line 197 Act II Scene II.  Hamlet’s sanity is what makes him want to take revenge on his uncle. 

DRJ #1: Hamlet Act I

DRJ#1: Hamlet, Act I

            These characters don’t remind me of anyone in particular but they do have some traits of people I know. Horatio reminds me of a wing man, that person who will always have their friends back and helps their friends. Their situation in the first scene sort of reminded me of my childhood when my friends and I would scare each other with haunted stories and really think we saw a ghost. Later on when I read about how the Ghost came to be I automatically thought of the Disney movie “The Lion King.” I remember someone mentioning “The Lion King” being based off of Hamlet before I knew about Hamlet. Now I see how they are similar because a brother kills their own brother to be the King.

            As I had said before, the character Horatio is like a “wing man.” I say this because he honestly reminds of those supporting characters, that one friend who will always be there but keep the major character from falling. I do not know too much about Horatio, yet I feel he has an important role. He even tried to talk to the ghost, showing a little bit of bravery and swears to not tell what the Ghost revealed to Hamlet. He is sort of like a foil to show the importance of the major character. I noticed how he is always concerned about Hamlet’s safety and lets him know what important things are going on. He is definitely not a tragic hero because he is not a main character and he from what the audience knows he has not experienced anything tragic that the audience would feel for him. Technically Horatio is not a foil at all because he does not contrast the main character he only supports Hamlet.

            In Act I, the theme is revenge versus forgiveness. There are great examples of revenge in Act I. One example of revenge is Fortinbras’ son wanting to take back the land that his father lost to Old King Hamlet. This shows how rivalry and war is never forgotten and revenge is common. Another example is Hamlet wanting to take revenge for his father when finding out his uncle Claudius killed his father. The ghost asks him to take revenge for his sake. The ghost says, “So art thou to revenge when thou shalt hear,” Line 8, Act I, Scene V. Claudius had even taken Old Hamlet’s wife away. Hamlet was already upset with everything that had happened and it was more than enough reason for him to take revenge because he didn’t want to sit there and do nothing, he was ready to take on his uncle. 

SSRJ #2: D. Walker - I Am The Grass

SSRJ #2: D. Walker

            To be honest, I don’t like how the piece ended. I was upset that the operation didn’t go well. Dinh put so much hope into the surgeon and in the end it didn’t work out. Not everything is always a happy ending. Dinh’s thumbs were taken away and it made me realize how something as small as thumbs can make life so much harder to live. It reminded me how thankful I am to have thumbs, hands, legs, to have my entire body.

            I think the element that stood out to me the most was the setting. It takes place in Vietnam, a place that haunts the surgeon because that is where he caused pain for others and himself and the war continues on inside him. Going back to Vietnam is reliving the war all over again. He remembers the murder he committed, the rape and the suffering he brought upon others. Being back in Vietnam gives him this chance to make it right again.

            There aren’t many situations in my life that relate to this story exactly but I can think of some instances. My God sister was born with a cleft lip and it was thanks to the doctors that they repaired her cleft lip. “I Am The Grass” also reminds me of the musical “Miss Saigon.” It’s a love story that takes place in the Vietnam War. Their stories are different but I feel they are the same because of the suffering the soldiers and the Vietnamese went through.

            The author is trying to express his take on war and that war is the theme of his story.  War causes death, it causes suffering and pain to people, even the innocent who end up getting caught in the conflict between the world’s disputes. Walker writes his experience in the main character, the surgeon. The surgeon is conflicted with his experiences in the Vietnam War and it continues to haunt him. “I cannot talk about these things I wish I could forget but know that I never will,” (315). There’s a war inside of him and he can’t find peace. In order for there to be peace there must be war and it is said war is peace. Walker describes how the surgeon feels about the terrors he has caused. In the beginning he even describes how he wants his wife and daughter to believe he is good and that he will never tell them his shame. The author then brings the surgeon back to the land of Vietnam, the land being the antagonist of the story. Here he is going to help children with cleft lips and he meets a Vietnamese doctor named Dinh. Dinh has suffered in the Vietnam War and has no thumbs because of it. Having no thumbs represent how the surgeon has no peace in himself. To resolve this, Dinh asks the surgeon to give back his thumbs by using his toe. Dinh puts all his faith into the surgeon truly believing that he wouldn’t eat like a “Frenchmen” anymore and want to use chopsticks (324). The surgeon also has hope as well and I think that this hope is his way of redeeming himself and that both Dinh and the surgeon can find peace. The night before the surgery, nightmares haunt him as he is anxious to perform the surgery, fearing that it may not work out. Unfortunately the operation is a failure. Dinh and the surgeon both fought a conflict in themselves but it was a loss. The surgeon doesn’t hear from Dinh after they find out about the failure operation. The surgeon reminds himself of the war and sees Vietnam again. He accepts the land and that he chose to take risks. This realization brings peace within him throughout the war of shame and failure he went through on the inside. He realizes Vietnam is a part of who he is.

            How do you think Dinh felt after the surgeon left? Do you think Dinh could ever forgive the surgeon even though Dinh asked him personally to help him? 

SSRJ # 1: Faulkner, A Rose For Emily

A Rose For Emily

I can definitely say “A Rose For Emily” is an interesting piece. This story was so simple yet the plot had much more behind it. When I first read this piece, I thought it was about the life of someone who passed away. It seemed like the narrator was listing the important parts of her life then explained it in detail. As I read it, all I can think about is why this is important and what does this have to do with this story. I kept asking myself, “What’s going to happen?” because I was waiting for something good to happen. When I mean good I mean interesting because I was pretty bored. I did have an idea of someone dying in the story but it seemed more about Emily and how she died since the story began that way. It wasn’t until the twisted ending that the story became fascinating, realizing how disturbed I was by such an ending.

I think Emily and the murder Emily committed had to be the most interesting part of the story. I say this because the story line revolved around and Emily and it wasn’t until later that I find out she kills someone that the story really grabbed my attention. I didn’t real think of any situations in my life that related to the story since I’ve never killed a person before. Maybe one way I can relate is how I felt left out of the “in-crowd” in high school the same way society left Emily alone. Sadly, I wanted to feel like I belong, I didn’t want to be alone and left out, in fact no one does. It is different in Emily’s case considering she refused to be a part of society at all but she was alone.

There are many symbols that represent the theme and meaning of the story, in which case the setting was the greatest working factor into conveying the author’s message. I believe Faulkner was trying to say that Southern American traditions should stay considering that he is a Southern native and had to experience the changes the South was going through. It seems to be this way because of Emily. Emily was raised under Southern customs and her strict father. The beginning of the story even told of how she wouldn’t pay taxes and she never did. This is the first sign of how she is accustomed to the way of South and refuses to change. I also believe that because her father was so strict she was very reserved from the rest of the townspeople. I think she didn’t want to associate with society because of her stubbornness in conforming to North. In turn, the townspeople had also left her alone and saw her as an outcast since she didn't pay taxes. It wasn’t until she started dating the Northerner Homer Barron after her father died that the townspeople paid attention to her.

Homer Barron had a major role into the plot of the story. He was from the North and working as construction worker to build sidewalks in their town. The sidewalks are a Northern idea being brought into the South. Homer was dating Emily for a little while until things started to change. Apparently Homer left as if he disappeared. In the end we find that Homer is dead, poisoned by Emily’s doing. It became clear that Emily has an extreme dislike for the North and probably felt the need to murder Barron because he was from the North. The story is North versus the South in this sense. Faulkner wanted to prove it, to prove that the North could never replace the South. Thus, the ending turns out to be creepy. Emily murders the man she dated but keeps his body for the rest of her life, on her bed to sleep next to every night. How much more creepier and disturbing could it get?

One element of the story which really caught my attention is if Emily was actually ill in her mentally. Do you think Emily became insane because of her background (her father’s strictness, southern identity, etc.)? Or do you think that she may perhaps be born with such a mentality? I honestly think Emily is pretty crazy to have committed those things in the first place and trying to make sense of why she did it seems to not make sense at all.

-Christine Molina