"Why do people have to be this lonely? What is the point of it all" (179)? K thought this as he contemplated being without Sumire at the acropolis. "Human beings in the final analysis have to survive on their own" (195). K bridged this idea with another when he "closed [his] eyes and listened carefully for the descendants of Sputnik, even now circling the earth, gravity their only tie to the planet. Lonely metal souls in the unimpeded darkness of space, they meet, pass each other, and part, never to meet again" (179). Is this satelite a metaphor for K?
K seems to have many relationships with others that are temporary and unfulfilling. Like a lonely satelite he crosses paths with other satelites (people) , but never meets them again. His time with Sumire is bitter sweet because he cannot have a romantic relationship with her. He has desires for her, but he cannot fulfill them. He crosses path with her for a time in his life, but she ends up abruptly leaving his life. In the case of Miu, he never speaks to her again. He wishes he could have seen her again, but she never tries to contact him. "Something must have happened to prevent her from contacting me"(202). This seems to be the case even with the family he grew up with. The only part of his family that he truly connected with was his dog. "...I couldn't communicate with anyone in my family" (194). Even the affair he was having with the mother of one of his students comes to an abrupt end. "...[Carrot] had a new teacher now, there were few times I'd run across my former girlfriend" (203). These people only exist temporarly in k's life like the satelites that cross paths with one another.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Foreshadowing in Sputnik Sweetheart
"'If I had my way, me too,' Sumire said, beaming. 'But what can you do? Wonderful things always come to an end'" (110).
When Miu told about her and Sumire's conversation, this line seemed to pop out at me as a kind of foreshadowing. For me, it seemed to foretell of Sumire's disappearance. The two had been speaking of how long they wish they could have stayed at the cottage. Although we see this excerpt in hindsight already knowing what had happened, it seems as though it had a purpose. I find it more than a coincidence that the line would be placed in one of the last conversations the two would have together.
We don't know exactly why Sumire left. Most would probably believe her disappearance had to with her advances being rejected by Miu. She was ashamed. However, because of this foreshadow, one could argue that maybe Sumire got bored with Miu. Maybe if she couldn't have a sexual relationship with Miu then she would not have one with her at all.
When Miu told about her and Sumire's conversation, this line seemed to pop out at me as a kind of foreshadowing. For me, it seemed to foretell of Sumire's disappearance. The two had been speaking of how long they wish they could have stayed at the cottage. Although we see this excerpt in hindsight already knowing what had happened, it seems as though it had a purpose. I find it more than a coincidence that the line would be placed in one of the last conversations the two would have together.
We don't know exactly why Sumire left. Most would probably believe her disappearance had to with her advances being rejected by Miu. She was ashamed. However, because of this foreshadow, one could argue that maybe Sumire got bored with Miu. Maybe if she couldn't have a sexual relationship with Miu then she would not have one with her at all.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Adrienne's Relationship with Her Father: Is it all that bad?
Adrienne Rich gives us the impression that her relationship with her father brought largely hurt her and did not benefit her. However, I strongly disagree. Adrienne Rich's father instilled in his daughter the importance of education. "...where the father walks up and down telling the child to work, work harder than anyone else has before? -But I can't stop seeing like this more and more I see like this everywhere" (108). Maybe in the beginning, she did not enjoy her father forcing her to work hard in her studies, but as she got older, maybe she started to value working hard in her studies more. Although Rich may have been disillusioned with her father earlier in life, she has to credit him for fostering this interest in academics and poetry to him. "His investment in my intellect and talent was egotistical, tyrannical, opinionated, and terribly wearing. He taught me nevertheless, to write and rewrite: to feel that I was a person of the book, even though a woman; to take ideas seriously" (232). Even after she becomes disillusioned with her father later in life, she still has to admit that he is largely responsible for her career. Maybe the relationship she had with her father wasn't so bad after all.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
"Equality vs. Sameness"
Equality and sameness are two words wich I often have believed to be grouped together. However, after reading "When We Dead Awaken: Writing As A Re-Vision" I have changed my notions of these two ideas. Now, the word "equal" does not necessarily imply the word "same." For example, women in our society could achieve equality in rights with men, but they don't necessarily have to be the same as men. They don't have to behave in a male stereotypical way just because they now have rights that were once considered exclusively male in nature. This concept seems to resonate with Rich's discussion of male and female poetry.
"But even in reading these women I was looking in them for the same things I had found in the poetry of men, because I had wanted women poets to be the equals of men, and to be equal was still confused with sounding the same "(171). In desiring male and female equality in writing, she wanted the styles of men and women to be the same. However, this does not make the poetry necessarily good. It makes it the same. Poetry can be of equal caliber if the styles are different. The poetry can be just as creative and imaginitive.
"But even in reading these women I was looking in them for the same things I had found in the poetry of men, because I had wanted women poets to be the equals of men, and to be equal was still confused with sounding the same "(171). In desiring male and female equality in writing, she wanted the styles of men and women to be the same. However, this does not make the poetry necessarily good. It makes it the same. Poetry can be of equal caliber if the styles are different. The poetry can be just as creative and imaginitive.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Respect for Women: Has It Improved That Much?
When I last wrote my blog, I discussed the importance of moral relativeness in considering whether Othello should bear responsibility for Desdemona's death. One of the important issues in making this determination that I considered was that women were treated with less respect in Othello's time. They were considered to be subservient to men and somewhat second-class citizens. Another factor was that chastity was more important in that time period. Therefore, when a woman cheated on her husband in this time she would have not only violated the everimportant virtue of chastity. She would also anger her "master" who provided for her. If he killed her it would not have been a big deal. We discussed this in our class today and as a group, we seemed to pride ourselves on how far we have come in respect for women. If a husband had suspected his wife of cheating in our time, he wouldn't jump to conclusions and just kill her. However, I think we have to ask ourselves if Western civillization has really progressed that much in regard to respect for women.
In recent times, we have critisized Eastern cultures and their treatment of women. One philosophy in particular that is condemned is Islamic Fundamentalism. It is true that many of these fundamentalists beat women, prevent them from earning an education and treat them as servile creatures somewhere below men and above an animal. I do not defend these actions in any way. But, we have to acknowledge that women are in some ways held in a higher regard in Islamic Fundamentalism than in modern Western culture.
This may seem outrageous to some, but I believe that Western culture has actually regressed in respect for a woman's body. In the last fifty years, women have gained many rights, but they have become increasingly objectified in pop culture. Magazines, television, movies and fashion have reduced the image of a woman largely down to her outside appearance. A woman's accomplishments seem to have become less and less important. The feminine ideal has become more and more shallow. If you look at a lot of celebrities today you can see my argument.
Many female celebreties have made it soley based on their looks. Has Paris Hilton ever accomplished anything worthwhile? Has Jessica Simpson ever gone to college or even completed high school? Nicole Richie? It seems that the mark of a woman is being based totally on her sex apeal in our Western Society. I think it encourages girls not to do meaningful things like go to college, work at a prestigous position or even just be a modest, but caring house wife. There is no shame in just being a stay-at-home mom. Objectification of women does not end with the celebrities we glorify, it also occurs in the music we listen to.
Much of todays music (not just rap music) demeans women. Many of the lyrics are disrespectful. They describe women as sex objects. These lyrics tell men to use women. They tell women basically to expect this. So we not only see the images of women being objectified, but we have to hear it too. This is our "advanced" culture.
At least in Othello's time and in Islamic Fundamentalism, women were treated with dignity when it came to their bodies. Women were prided on being chaste. Women to some degree were raised to aspire to higher things. They would want to be more than just "hot." A good woman would raise her children correctly, manage to deal with a demanding and unapreciative husband, and keep her house clean. Although many women would find this not much to aspire to, its more than Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie or Paris Hilton could ever accomplish. The women in Othello's time and the era of Islamic Fundamentalism are better role models for todays generation than any of these celebrities. They believed in things bigger than themselves and their bodies.
In recent times, we have critisized Eastern cultures and their treatment of women. One philosophy in particular that is condemned is Islamic Fundamentalism. It is true that many of these fundamentalists beat women, prevent them from earning an education and treat them as servile creatures somewhere below men and above an animal. I do not defend these actions in any way. But, we have to acknowledge that women are in some ways held in a higher regard in Islamic Fundamentalism than in modern Western culture.
This may seem outrageous to some, but I believe that Western culture has actually regressed in respect for a woman's body. In the last fifty years, women have gained many rights, but they have become increasingly objectified in pop culture. Magazines, television, movies and fashion have reduced the image of a woman largely down to her outside appearance. A woman's accomplishments seem to have become less and less important. The feminine ideal has become more and more shallow. If you look at a lot of celebrities today you can see my argument.
Many female celebreties have made it soley based on their looks. Has Paris Hilton ever accomplished anything worthwhile? Has Jessica Simpson ever gone to college or even completed high school? Nicole Richie? It seems that the mark of a woman is being based totally on her sex apeal in our Western Society. I think it encourages girls not to do meaningful things like go to college, work at a prestigous position or even just be a modest, but caring house wife. There is no shame in just being a stay-at-home mom. Objectification of women does not end with the celebrities we glorify, it also occurs in the music we listen to.
Much of todays music (not just rap music) demeans women. Many of the lyrics are disrespectful. They describe women as sex objects. These lyrics tell men to use women. They tell women basically to expect this. So we not only see the images of women being objectified, but we have to hear it too. This is our "advanced" culture.
At least in Othello's time and in Islamic Fundamentalism, women were treated with dignity when it came to their bodies. Women were prided on being chaste. Women to some degree were raised to aspire to higher things. They would want to be more than just "hot." A good woman would raise her children correctly, manage to deal with a demanding and unapreciative husband, and keep her house clean. Although many women would find this not much to aspire to, its more than Jessica Simpson, Nicole Richie or Paris Hilton could ever accomplish. The women in Othello's time and the era of Islamic Fundamentalism are better role models for todays generation than any of these celebrities. They believed in things bigger than themselves and their bodies.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
We Cannot Make Judgements About Those in Another Time and Place
I often find myself judging other people. I always think that I can do something better than another. I think that in a situation where someone failed to do something, I on the other hand would have got it done. When someone may have had a lapse in ethics I always think that I would have done the right thing. This may be true, but it is highly unlikely.
When we are in the heat of the moment and making a decision a lot may be going through our minds. We may think how it impacts our family, our friends, our morality, our grades, and many other spheres of our life. In addition to these conflicting influences, emotion plays a huge role in our decision making process. Feelings can overwhelm a person and cloud any moral faculties or prudence that he or she would have in any other less stressful situation. This is why it may be unfair to judge someone based on their conduct in a situation unless you have known everything that was going through that person's mind.
I think this definitely applies when judging the actions of Othello in murdering his wife. In a time when women receive more respect, and chastity is no longer seen as an essential virtue, cheating on ones husband may not be looked at as a terrible crime as it was in Shakespeare's time. Othello says, " Heaven stops the nose at [her unfaithfulness]...Impudent Strumpet" (109)! Obviously from his rant we see how serious an offense unfaithfulness is. Heaven cringes at it. Now, women are not stoned for cheating on their husbands. Because they receive more respect than they used to, women are seen as an essential part of the family. Husbands are much more forgiving in modern times. In the time of Shakespeare, killing was wrong, but if a man killed his wife for cheating on her, it would not be that much of a crime. Being a part of this culture, Othello would feel no shame in murdering his wife. In fact, he would probably feel justified for doing so. The thought of this may make us shudder today, but 300-400 years ago there was a different culture and way of life. I really don't think anyone can look at another person's actions in another time through the thin scope of morality in the modern Western world. Morality is relative.
When we are in the heat of the moment and making a decision a lot may be going through our minds. We may think how it impacts our family, our friends, our morality, our grades, and many other spheres of our life. In addition to these conflicting influences, emotion plays a huge role in our decision making process. Feelings can overwhelm a person and cloud any moral faculties or prudence that he or she would have in any other less stressful situation. This is why it may be unfair to judge someone based on their conduct in a situation unless you have known everything that was going through that person's mind.
I think this definitely applies when judging the actions of Othello in murdering his wife. In a time when women receive more respect, and chastity is no longer seen as an essential virtue, cheating on ones husband may not be looked at as a terrible crime as it was in Shakespeare's time. Othello says, " Heaven stops the nose at [her unfaithfulness]...Impudent Strumpet" (109)! Obviously from his rant we see how serious an offense unfaithfulness is. Heaven cringes at it. Now, women are not stoned for cheating on their husbands. Because they receive more respect than they used to, women are seen as an essential part of the family. Husbands are much more forgiving in modern times. In the time of Shakespeare, killing was wrong, but if a man killed his wife for cheating on her, it would not be that much of a crime. Being a part of this culture, Othello would feel no shame in murdering his wife. In fact, he would probably feel justified for doing so. The thought of this may make us shudder today, but 300-400 years ago there was a different culture and way of life. I really don't think anyone can look at another person's actions in another time through the thin scope of morality in the modern Western world. Morality is relative.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
The Power of Love
Sadly, in the newspaper there are stories so often of spousal abuse that often lead to murder and harm to children. Frequently, we see wives who are in total denial of what is happening to them. They will have marks and physical proof of what their husband has done to them. Surprisingly, these battered women make excuses for their husbands like "I fell down the stairs" or "I fell in aerobics class." They could potentially stop it before it gets any worse. In my opinion, I think there are several resons for why a woman what put herself through this and not try to get a divorce or separate from her husband. The wife may be thinking of the children, or having to totally change her lifestyle and possibly having to support herself if she hadn't previously worked. She may not have the training to hold a jobe that could support a large family. Another just as likely possibility is that the wife is totally blinded by the love she has for her husband. She cannot come to the realization of what is happening to her because she just cannot accept it.
I saw this same phenomenon in the final moments of Desdemona's murder. She completely denied it had anything to do with Othello. This occurrs when Emilia says, "'O, who hath done this deed?' and then Desdemona replies in her last words as she dies, " Nobody-I myself. Farwell...'" (133-134). Othello then says, "'Why should she be murdered?' and Emilia retorts, "Alas, who knows?'" (134). Othello states, "You heard her say herself, it was not I"(134). I think that Desdemona was so in love with Othello that even in the final moments of her murder, a death that she knew she did not deserve, Desdemona still could not blame Othello for her murder. She loved him too much. It would hurt her more to acknowledge the fact that Othello had killed her than to just die and accept death. Infatuation is a formidable force not only in this story, but in real life.
I saw this same phenomenon in the final moments of Desdemona's murder. She completely denied it had anything to do with Othello. This occurrs when Emilia says, "'O, who hath done this deed?' and then Desdemona replies in her last words as she dies, " Nobody-I myself. Farwell...'" (133-134). Othello then says, "'Why should she be murdered?' and Emilia retorts, "Alas, who knows?'" (134). Othello states, "You heard her say herself, it was not I"(134). I think that Desdemona was so in love with Othello that even in the final moments of her murder, a death that she knew she did not deserve, Desdemona still could not blame Othello for her murder. She loved him too much. It would hurt her more to acknowledge the fact that Othello had killed her than to just die and accept death. Infatuation is a formidable force not only in this story, but in real life.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Manipulative People
After reading Iago's second soliloquoy, I saw something similar in him to another character we discussed frequently in core: Lily Bart. What I find in common with these two characters is ther manipulative natures. They try to control the social situations around them for their own benefit.
I remember one scene in particular in The House of Mirth when Lily was at her best. She was with Percy Gryce taking the train. She wanted his attention badly because she thought he would be a good suitor because he was rich. She pretended to fall when the train rocked to start a conversation with Gryce. She made sure to talk about things like Americana books to get his attention and keep him interested. She desperately wanted him to find her interesting. She had a skill for manipulating people to get what she wanted.
Iago, like Lily is manipulative. Through Act 1 and Act 2, there are several instances where Iago displays this characteristic. One example is when he gets Cassio drunk so he can cause a disturtbance and be relieved of his duties. This would make Iago second in command. He says, "If I can fasten but one cup upon [Cassio] with that with which he hath drunk tonight already, he'll be full of quarrel and offense..." (47). Later after wishing to do harm to Cassio, he lies to Othello to sound kind. He says, "I'd rather have this tongue cut from my mouth than to do offense to Michael Cassio..." (54). Iago lies about wanting to do harm to Cassio because he himself wants to gain favor from Othello. By sounding kind, he wishes to win over Othello. In the same act, he acts completely differently towards Cassio so he can manipulate others and reach his ends just like Lily would.
I remember one scene in particular in The House of Mirth when Lily was at her best. She was with Percy Gryce taking the train. She wanted his attention badly because she thought he would be a good suitor because he was rich. She pretended to fall when the train rocked to start a conversation with Gryce. She made sure to talk about things like Americana books to get his attention and keep him interested. She desperately wanted him to find her interesting. She had a skill for manipulating people to get what she wanted.
Iago, like Lily is manipulative. Through Act 1 and Act 2, there are several instances where Iago displays this characteristic. One example is when he gets Cassio drunk so he can cause a disturtbance and be relieved of his duties. This would make Iago second in command. He says, "If I can fasten but one cup upon [Cassio] with that with which he hath drunk tonight already, he'll be full of quarrel and offense..." (47). Later after wishing to do harm to Cassio, he lies to Othello to sound kind. He says, "I'd rather have this tongue cut from my mouth than to do offense to Michael Cassio..." (54). Iago lies about wanting to do harm to Cassio because he himself wants to gain favor from Othello. By sounding kind, he wishes to win over Othello. In the same act, he acts completely differently towards Cassio so he can manipulate others and reach his ends just like Lily would.
Unfortunately, I did not read Othello in high school so I might have not been as familiar with the plot as some of my other classmates. However, after the speaker gave his presentation to the class, I feel that I understand Shakespeare a little better and what is going on in this play. I feel like I am caught up now.
The speaker repeatedly emphasized that Iago was deceptively nice. He was viewed in the beginning of the play as an honest and trustworthy character. This is most obvious when Othello says, "Iago is most honest" (45). His true colors come out in his soliloquoys. In his second soliloquoy, we see how he seeks to manipulate others around him to reach his ends of getting revenge with Othello. "My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress-I'll set her on-myself a while to draw the Moor apart and bring him jump when he may Cassio find soliciting his wife. Aye that's the way" (59)! At first, when I read Act I i felt as though I didn't understand what was going on and I was unfamiliar with the characters. However, now that I am more familiar with the text, I have a better grasp of what is going on.
The speaker repeatedly emphasized that Iago was deceptively nice. He was viewed in the beginning of the play as an honest and trustworthy character. This is most obvious when Othello says, "Iago is most honest" (45). His true colors come out in his soliloquoys. In his second soliloquoy, we see how he seeks to manipulate others around him to reach his ends of getting revenge with Othello. "My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress-I'll set her on-myself a while to draw the Moor apart and bring him jump when he may Cassio find soliciting his wife. Aye that's the way" (59)! At first, when I read Act I i felt as though I didn't understand what was going on and I was unfamiliar with the characters. However, now that I am more familiar with the text, I have a better grasp of what is going on.
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