For Exam: Overview of Twelfth Night

This was written during the reign of Queen Elisabeth I (1558-1603) English Renaissance
By: William Shakespeare
Written in 1601
Comedy: was performed as a Play
Setting of Story: Place called Illyria
Characters and Role:
Orsino: Duke of Illyria; who is obsessed and wants to marry the Fair lady Olivia
Viola: Comes to Illyria after her shipwreck. Works for Orsino but is disguised as a man named "Cesario" Is Orsinos secret admirer. Viloa is entrusted to convey the Dukes love to Olivia.

Sea Captain: Friend of Viola who helps her disguise as a man

Lady Olivia: A countess of high social standing and beauty. Orisno wants her to marry him. she has resigned herself to 7 years of solitude because of her father's death and then her brothers death. Ignores Orsino but when she sees Cesario (Viola) she falls deeply in love with him. This causes problems for Cesario who is really Viola.. Later she will marry Sebastion Viola's brother who Olivia thinks is Cesario. Everything works out in the end for her!

Sebastion: Viola's Twin brother. They think he did not survive the shipwreck. He will come to Illyria where he will be reunited with his sister. Will take Lady Olivia as his bride.

Antonio: A sea captain by trade. He has many enemies of the Dukes court. He accompanies Sebastion in his travels.

Sir Toby Belch: Olivia's Uncle. He is always drunk and passes away the time drinking with his friend Sir Andrew Aguecheek. He is a great at playing practical jokes, in which he likes to play on Malvolio.

Sir Andrew Aguecheek: Drinking partner of Sir Toby. Always is pushing Lady Olivia's patience with his loud and lewd behavior. Sir Andrew like Sir Toby having little love for the annoying Malvolio and is party to a practical joke against him. Sir Andrew however is greatly valued by Sir Toby since he is rich, earning some "three thousand ducats a year." Unwittingly, Sir Andrew is also the pawn in Sir Toby's plot making. Naive by nature, he is manipulated by Sir Toby into pursuing Lady Olivia since this will maintain Sir Toby's drinking lifestyle. Later Sir Andrew is manipulated into challenging Cesario, who becomes a threat to Sir Toby's plans.

Malvolio: As Lady Olivia's steward, Malvolio sees himself in a somewhat grandiose light, imagining Olivia to love him and wishing to be more than his current rank. This and his continuous disapproval of Sir Toby and Sir Andrew's drinking, earn him their hatred and he quickly becomes their pawn in a complex romantic ruse.

Maria: Lady Olivia's woman, she is patient and tactful where Malvolio is brash and insulting. She too, disapproves of Sir Toby and company's drinking but tries tactfully to subdue their boisterous spirits. Her dislike of Malvolio leads her to create an elaborate romantic trick on Malvolio, which she also uses to calm down Sir Toby and company, who are now enthusiastic conspirator's in Malvolio's humiliation.

Feste: Referred to in the text as "The Clown" and a servant to Olivia, Feste like so many of Shakespeare's fools, speaks the truth from the source of recognized foolishness. He is much appreciated by Sir Toby, who spends many hours with him.

Fabian: A servant of Lady Olivia's, he too dislikes Malvolio, and also participates enthusiastically in Malvolio's downfall.

Valentine and Curio: Gentlemen attending Orsino at the start of the play.

At the end. Cesario (Viola) and Sebastion will see one another and find out they are in fact brother and sister.
Sebastion will marry Olivia
Malvolio will not get Olivia and is mad at the trick that has been played on him that Olivia was not really in love with him. He will leave but says he will be back for revenge.
Duke Orisino will take Viola as he mistress and it is assumed that they will marry.
Feste will end the play with song that speaks of growing up and growing old.

Absalom and Achitophel

I didn't enjoy this poem as well as I have like all of the other stories in the class. I am not a huge politics person and mainly this was what the poem represented so I couldn't stay focused on it.
From what I understood. Dryden was ordered to right the poem by King Charles II, who also paid him for this. In the poem Dryden tells of the story of David in the book of Samuel. But mainly this was a cover poem to represent King Charles and what was going on in England. At the time England was having a crisis of both religious and political that was threatening the Restoration and another civil War.
Was Dryden on the Kings side? Were the religious views of the poem to tell of the Kings faults? in the preface before the poem it says Dryden had to use all his skill and mention but gloss over the King's faults. Since the Charles II did pay him to write the poem I do not think Dryden would want to write anything to get the King on his bad side. But he also apologizes for the writing so maybe by apologizing that keeps King Charles from getting suspicious or mad at Dryden.
I did think that Dryden picked a great book from the bible to represent King Charles.. He wants to reprsent the King and from the bible David : "The sins of the Father" being David who has sinned and it is very difficult for him to correct his sons from sinning since they have seen what he has done.(David's sons Amnon and Absalom) So the representation between the Charles II and David are very much alike.
In the scripture there is a part about Ahithophel telling Absalom to attack his father David and to do it in a hurry..During this time period in England were the People wanting to Kill King Charles. at the end of the scripture David returns to the country and slowly the people are uniting under him again. He is forgiving and fair as he deals with those who have rejected him and those whose loyalty has been suspect. Therefore if this is the representation of David then King Charles has been in the wrong and this is representing the people following his rule again?
This was a difficult read for me I hope that I have understood this right.

The Beggar's Opera

I love reading Beggar's Opera. It starts out being funny already. What exactly is Peachum's occupation. Is he a lawyer, judge, jailer, executioner or all the above? Peachum is the typical father when he finds out about Macheth. No man is good enough for his daughter. I'm sure he's only protecting her. But why call his daughter a wench. That's insulting her. It's very ironic that Peachum thinks Polly is slut for marrying one man but then wants Polly to date many men which I see is a big no no and could lead to her being seen as a whore.
"If the affair is not already done..." This comment by Peachum makes me think it was custom for children to get married behind their parents back. Oh Oh!! The shit has hit the fan! Polly and Macheath are married. Peachum is going to kill her. this the very thing he was trying to talk Polly out of doing. And Mrs. Peachum has just torn Polly a new a.. hole. She straight up called the girl every bad name in the book. SLUT, BAGGAGE, HUSSY, JADE, WENCH!! I feel so sorry for Polly. How could parents call their child all these degrading names. Polly married because of love but I think she was a little naive because she didn't consider the pros and cons of being married and to highwayman at that. Also, I take it ruined meas pregnant. Now the Peachums have gone too far. They want to kill Macheath to restore family honor. This idea is ludacris. A good punishment would be to let Polly stay married and let her deal with Macheath's gaming, drinking and whoring. That's enough to drive any women crazy. Poor Polly doesn't know what to do or think. At least she has the smarts to ease drop on her parents to learn about the plan for Macheath. How sad Polly and Macheath must part.
"If music be the food of love, play on." That's the line from Twelfth Night. I am so disappointed in Macheath. I thought he really loved Polly. He's a dog. Macheath just moved on to the next piece of ass he could find. Plus he has the nerve to send for not one woman but eight.
This is too funny. The one thing that Macheath loves so much (women) has just gotten him arrested. This is such a thing as karma. 'The greatest heroes have been ruined by women." I believe this line refers to Adam and Eve, Sampson and Delila and others. It also reminds me of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. This line applies here also because Macheath is seen as a hero to his men and his love of for the company of women got him arrested.
This story gets better and better. Macheath has the jailer's daughter pregnant and is supposedly married to her also. He's in jail and now Lucy and Polly are fighting over him. I say the girls need to beat his ass. This could be a modern day soap opera! It was wrong the way Macheath is treating Polly. For some reason I think Lucy is a little more street smart, so she shouldn't have put all her trust in Macheath. By disowning Polly, Macheath is just doing whatever he has to do to get of jail.
Lucy finally realizes Macheath has plyed her like a fiddle. And like the Peachums, Lockit calls his daughter baed names (wench, hussy, vulgar slut, strumpet, mistress puss) and if I'm not mistaken he makes her fast. Not good for a pregnant woman.
You would think Macheath would hide out somewhere or maybe even leave town. But there he is chasing a piece of ass again. And Lucy has lost her damn mind trying to kill Polly. She needs to go after Macheath not Polly. Thank goodness Polly was smart enough to realize Lucy was up to something.
You have got to be kidding me!! Four more wives!! And children!! Instead of hanging Macheath just let the beat him.
Never heard that a story must have a happy ending but there's first time for everything. Love conquers all at the end. Even though Macheath is a slut, jade, and man-whore, I always wanted him and Polly together.
this story was hilarious. Wish we had performed this for the university.

The Lady's Dressing Room and Lady Montagu's Response

Swift needs to give Celia and all other women abreak. It takes a lot for some women to get ready. And yes we do use alot of tissue, lace, etc. but men love how we look when we're done. Could this Pandora's Box be Celia's laundry bascket? If that's the case, anybody's could smell. To suggest whether or not Strephon should give up on Celia because she has some hygiene issues is wrong. Women stand by men all the time and men are usually nastier than women.

I am so happy someone wrote a response to Swift's The Lady's Dressing Room. The very thing s Swift dispises (use of tissue and make-up, wearing lace) in the poem is what draws him to the prostitute.

The Modest Proposal

I don't like seeing women, children or men begging for food either. But instead of degrading the people, the author should find ways to help them. But I guess he has some what of a heart. Swift agrees to support infants for the first year of life. Woo Hoo!!
"A one year old is a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome Food; whether Stewed, Roasted,Baked or Broiled." This man has completely lost his damn mind. He expects someone to kill and eat their child. He's making cannibals. And to suggest letting the baby suck extra to fatten them up is really sick. I don't give a damn how expensive meat is or that it maybe hard to get.My family would just have to become vegetarians. I also don't care how high the rent goes. I'm not eating my kid. I hope these people don't take this nonsense to heart. There is no way this proposal can encourage a mother's love for her children. How can you lose something knowing you're going to kill and eat it. Swift is a deranged man!!! Maybe someone should kill and eat him.

Orronoko, or The Royal Slave

I too found the beginning of this story hard to get into. I didn't know what angle Behn was coming from.The author describes the people of Surinam as beautiful. "They are charming , novel, extremely modest and bashful. Surianamians walk around naked and no indecent actions or glances take place." They are innocence at its finest. However, i can't help but think of these beautiful, nonthreatening people becoming slaves. They were minding their own business just trying to live. I hate to see people mistreated.
The general's daughter seems to be the female version of Oroonoko. Beautiful, finely built,smart, pleasing to the eyes.
"He had intelligence brought him that Imoinda was most certainly mistress to the Prince Oroonoko." No the King didn't!! He knew Imoinda was Oroonoko's wife but he still sent the veil to her.Such a dirty old man!!! the King is selfish and cares about no one but himself. And to do this to his own grandson is horrible. I know there was such a thing as rule and regulations that Oroonoko didn't follow by not getting the King's permission to marry, but the King should forgive and forget and have respect for a man and his wife. I thin the King did this out of spite. And poor Imoinda! I would have died if I received the veil. When Oroonoko finds out he's going to flip out.
"But as it is the greatest crime in nature amongst 'em to touch a woman after having been possessed by a son, a father, or a brother, so now he looked on Imoinda as a polluted thing..." I don't get how the King can say that Imoinda is impure and polluted and he can't have her after she slept with her HUSBAND. First of all the King should have never sent for Imoinda because he knew Imoinda was Oroonoko's mistress. It was Imoinda and Oroonoko's right to have sex. And then to make matters worse the King sold Imoinda into slavery.
Poor Oroonoko!! The captain waited until he was drunk to capture him. Maybe he was afraid of Oroonoko's strength and stature. Yet he continues to trick Oroonoko while on the ship to get him and his men to eat. Orronoko still shows that honesty and innocense talked about at the beginning of the story.
Trefry seems to be a kind and caring slave master. However, I still have a feeling his kindness will turn to hatred. I was very surprised that he let Oroonoko and Imoinda be together. During the slavery I read about it was uncommon for slaves to be allowed to choose their wives. Also, slaves weren't allowed to go out fishing and hunting by themselves and they definitely weren't put in charge as a guide to lead white people anywhere.
"But they were no sooner arrived at the place where all the slaves received their punishments of whipping, but they laid hands on Ceasar..." Now this sounds more like the slavery we all heard about. They've stripped Oroonoko of his name, taking away his identity and are now going to beat him to make him obidient. Oroonoko realizes that no matter how well he was treated he is still simply a slave to the white man. The white man's promises was just another trick. I let you do what you want and when the time is right you do what I want.
I kind of understand why Oroonoko made the decision to kill his wife and baby. The thought of having your child taken away is enough to make you want to harm anyone. Many slaves had their children taken away only to wonder what type of life they will have. Oroonoko was correct in thinking th baby would have been the property of the slave master. I believe that's why he made the decision to kill his family and self.
WOW!! When I finished reading the sory, I was left speechless. I thought Oroonoko would kill Byam and then himself like he planned. The way they killed Oroonoko was demeaning and dowrn right cruel. The ending was very similar to what we have read anout how slaves were treated when they tried to escape. I was confused at first about the author's role in the story. I wasn't sure if she was a slave or not. But it seems she was a slave.

"The Imperfect Enjoyment"

In "The Imperfect Enjoyment" John Wilmot describes a naked woman lying in bed clasped in this guys arms. He uses imagery of the ideal of sex very thoroughly: "Both equally inspired with eager fire,/ Melting with kindness flaming with desire/ With arms, legs, lips, close clinging to embrace/ She clips me to her breast and sucks me to her face..." (lines 3-6). However, the man in this poem is shamed that he had loved so many before this woman who he actually loves and makes him "impotent". He never mentions any women's names and perhaps that is because they do not matter to him. They were just past lovers or even one night stands?: "Thou treacherous, base deserter of my flame/ False to my passion, fatal to my flame/ Through what mistakes magic dost thou prove/ So true to lewdness, so untrue to love?/ What oyster-cinder-beggar-common whore/ Didst thou ever fail in all thy life before?/ When vice, disease, and scandal lead the way" (lines 46-52). I do not understand why now does he think about his past. Does he think that this woman is going to be like the ones before. These low class women he refers to as whores? Or why now does his past come into his mind? Is it possibly because like the rest this woman is too just a random woman? However, I still do not understand? If he is impotent does that mean that him and this lady he is lying in bed with did not have sex? Not that even matters. I do feel that this man thought he was used and taken advantage of: "Worst part of me, and henceforth hated most/ Through all the town a common fucking post" (lines 62 and 63). With this said, mabe he fell in love before and the women only used him for sex and pleasure? Perhaps. I find that literature has come along way considering at one time sex was forbidden to talk about and now it is out in the open, and not just that, but a man is expressing that he was possibly used and regrets his past sexual partners? I might have taken this out of context but this is how I understood it. Maybe I am completely sexually distraught myself? haha and perhaps this is nothing like I understood it.

Twelfth Night

Wow! Olivia must be some hot chick. Her mere presence takes diseases out of the air. I have two brothers and I love them dearly. But to mourn over them for seven years if one of them should die, I'm not sure I can do that. It's not normal and a little extreme. Hope I don't sound too mean.
Poor Viola. She's all alone. Hope her disguise works so she can get a job with the duke. And hopefully her brother is still alive.
Sir Toby should be ashamed of himself. An uncle is suppose to want the best for his niece. But he finds a drunk to court Olivia. No wonder Olivia doesn't like Sir Andrew. I would either. Let him go home like he wants to and stay there until he gets his drinking under control.
"The more fool, madonna, to mourn for your brother's soul, being in heaven." Even Feste the fool thinks Olivia is kind of weird for mourning over her brother so long. If her brother is in heaven Olivia should be happy and rejoice.
Viola as Cesario finally gets Olivia to take her veil down. I think her cunningness and knowing what a woman likes to hear gets Olivia to put her guard down.
"Mine eye too great a flatter for my mind." Olivia likes Cesario! Olivia likes Cesario! Finally meets a man she ca give her heart to and Cesario is a woman.
"I do adore thee so that danger shall seem a sport, and I will go." Okay, let me get this straight. Now Antonio is in love with Sabastian. He's even willing to risk his life for someone he just met.
Ha ha ! this is too funny!! Viola realizes Olivia is in love with her. She better find a way to get out of this sticky situation or she'll be a woman married to a woman but wanting a man.
Malvolio is so full of himself and so gullible. The three stooges, Maria, Sir Toby and Sir Andrew, has him walking around acting like a fool. And the yellow stockings and cross garters has got to go.
They say love is love is blind and I guess deaf too. Olivia is not trying to hear anything Viola as Cesario is saying about not being a man.
Maria, Sir Toby and Fabian are so wrong. They know good and well Malvolio isn't crazy. Locking him up in a dark room will cause him to go crazy.
Sir Toby is such an instigator. But to his surprise he has to knuckle up and fight.
Poor Malvolio!! They are really pulling one on him. Feste has joined in on the prank and of all things playing a priest. God have mercy on Malvolio.
Olivia and Sabastian got married!!! He doesn't even know he! Olivia finally got her man, well kind of.
Finally the cats are out of the bag. Everyone knows Viola is a woman. Sabastian and Viola have found each other. Yeah!! And the biggest surprise of all... Maria and sir Toby gets MARRIED! Never saw that coming.
Malvolio suffers more than anyone. I too would want to seek revenge.
Twelfth Night was a fun story to read. I liked all the twists and turns. It made me want more. I too along with Regina wonder why Shakespeare would write a story like this. Makes you wonder what role homosexuality played in this time period.

Utopia- Book 2

So far Utopia seems like an okay place to live. I like the idea of everyone sharing in the harvesting, and that a city doesn't try to intrude on another city's property. One idea Hythloday tried to get kings to accept. However when I read that the house doors couldn't be locked and that twenty-nine other people would be in that house I started to have second thoughts.
A six hour work schedule doesn't seem so bad but I bet they work they butts off in those hours. I am also happy to see that everyone has a job but are these jobs appointed or can they choose. I also like the fact that they do daily maintenance of their city.
Children aren't born into slavery. But what happens to them? Does Utopia have an orphanage or does each household take a child.
One thing I wonder about is why are all the people dressed alike. I'm sure that there are people who want to show their individual styles and tastes. However when everyone dresses alike there is less chance of jealousy and competition to be like someone else. "KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES"
I am surprised to read that euthanasia was promoted in Utopia. In the United States that's very controversial.
I'm not sure about Utopia's peek policy berfore you get married. Some say it's not the size it's how you use it. Maybe if we had chaporoned dates there would be less divorce.
Wow! Fighters with a conscience. In today's war everything gets destroyed. Especially if the US has anything to do with it.
I'm also surprised to read that there are many religions. Everything seems so orderly and unified, I expected one religion.

Utopia - Book 1

"the advise of an outsider no matter how wise, would meet with disdain"
I agree with Hythloday's comment. If I had a problem and was seeking advise, I would listen to a family member or a best friend before I took the someone else's advice. I would listen and think about what the stranger said but like the princes follow my family or friends advice. And why work for someone when you can work for yourself and do as you please? Hythloday is right in not wanting to work for the king. If the king really needed Hythloday, the king could go to him and pay whatever Hythloday charges. But again, there's the question of taking the advice and doing something with it. Plus with Hythloday being so accustomed to traveling as he pleases, it would be hard for him to be stationary.
I've heard of cutting off a hand if you are caught stealing but put to death. That's a little extreme!! What happens when the victim catches the thief and kills the thief himself? The victim is now a murderer. Does he get put to death also? England was just a killing field. Hythloday gives the Cardinal ideas of ways to deal with the stealing but will the Cardinal persuade the king to implement these changes. Probably not!
"On the day that their king first assumes office, he must take an oath ... that he will never have in his treasury at any one time more that a thousand pounds..." That would never work in the United States. Today a thusand pounds equal $1860.70 US dollars. This is probably not enough to pay the bills at the White House let alone the people in Congress. Keeping a set amount wouldn't work here we have too many people eating support for their own policies and practices.
I don't think More realizes it but he is proving Hyloday's point that he should not be a counsel of a king. More, himself disagrees with Hythloday.

Wife of Bath Prologue and Tale

Hey everyone! Sorry for blogging so late but as we all know life is crazy.
The Wife of Bath is certainly a lively one! The prologue starts with her stating she was twelve years old when she got married for the first time and then proceeded to have four more husbands. She clearly uses God's command of "Be fruitful and multiply" as a way to justify her many marriages. I thought that meant to replenish the earth with people and animals. Of course marriage is a way to replenis the earth but Wife of Bath never mentions having children. I agree with the Wife of Bath when she says there no given number for the amount of times a person can get married. During a wedding ceremony the vow is "until death do we part" and the Wife of Bath's husbands all died before she married the next. As a result no moral law has been broken. Her actions were just at a time when women were looked upon as being meek and submissive. In the prologue, theWife of Bath talks about sex in great detail. She is a woman determined to be sexually satisfied in her marriages. I like how she says that ' the least her husbands can do since she's giving up her material possessions. Too bad she has to go through all those husbands to find her true love, Jankin. And unfortunately, they had such an abusive relationshi. I believe Wife of Bath met her match with Jankin. Wife of Bath is truely out of her element. She is an assertive strong willed woman when she should be obidient and loyal to the male sex.
THE TALE
Knights are seen as rightous trustworthy men. Tis knight is neither these things. Noble men do not go around raping women. I think King Arthur is just in wanting to have the Knight killed. What I can't understand is why the queen wants to spare the knight from death. The queen has truely lost her mind. She gave the knight a year and a day to save himself from death. What's going to happen if he doesn't come back?! And what a task - find out what women want. I'm amazed the knight is actually tryingto find the answer to the queen's question.
The knight agreed to the old woman's deal without hearing what she wants in return. Not a good idea!!!! But he got the right answer. Yeah!! Unfortunately he has to wed the old ugly woman. Should have gotten all the info. to the woman's deal before agreeing to give her what she wants. The knight is so sad he's married to the old woaman. But when asked if he wants a beautiful and untrusting or old and trusting, he tells his wife "what ever she desires". I don't think he really cares at this point. He's wallowing in self pity.
The wife is beautiful and young!!! Did she turn beautiful physically of did the knight just overlook her ugliness. It is not clear what actually took place. Anyway the knight got what he wanted.
The Wife of Bath Tale was a good story. I think it was a comdy as well as suspenseful. You didn't know what would happen next.

Study Guide

http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/modeng/modeng0.browse.html..... i posted this website on there because i found some information about the readings and the time periods. i thought that you guys might want to check it out. i still going to do my job with the poems. i just thought that it might help....thanks!!!

Sir Gawain & the Green Knight Part 3 & 4

I think it’s really funny that the host wife goes after Sir Gawain and tries to get him to sleep with her. I’m glad the Sir Gawain stuck to his nobility and didn’t do anything with her; I guess that’s why he was a noble knight on King Arthur’s table. For three days the porter went out hunting and every one of those days Gawain got what he caught out in the woods. The first day it was deer, the second it was a bore, and the third day it was a fox. I didn’t even think of what each animal stands for as I was reading this story, but I think it’s very clever that the author put these animals in for their symbolization. While the porter was out hunting, Sir Gawain was receiving kisses from the porter’s wife, and then everyday when the porter came back from hunting, Sir Gawain would get the animal, and the porter would get a kiss!!! That must have been so weird. I mean for both the porter and Sir Gawain, because Sir Gawain had to kiss a man, and then the Porter had to receive the kisses, because that was part of their deal. I think after the first day, I would have been like, okay, what’s going on?? Who kissed you, but the Porter didn’t even ask any questions. He just took them. Then the wife gives Sir Gawain a green girdle that will protect Sir Gawain from harm, but he doesn’t give that to the porter, he keeps it! Why would he keep that?? So at the end of the story he only gets a cut on his neck, because he told the porter about everything except the Green Girdle, so he didn’t get that bad of a punishment. But Sir Gawain punished himself enough, he was ashamed of himself for not telling the Porter about the Green Girdle and felt like a failure. When he gets back to King Arthur he tells them all about what happened, and he tells them about the Green Girdle, and how he failed. So after that King Arthur decides that every knight should where the Green Girdle. But why exactly did he decide this?? I mean Sir Gawain could have done a lot worse, than just not give the porter the green girdle that the wife gave him; he could have slept with her!!! But he didn’t, and everyone seemed to make a big deal about the Green Girdle!

Sir Gawain & the Green Knight Part 1 & 2

This whole story is really weird. We begin with King Arthur and his knights sitting around the round table and they are having a party, since it was the holidays. Everything is fine and going good, and then Green Knight shows up, first off, why is he Green?? Wouldn't that spark up some questions, just to start with?? Anyway, he wants to play a game, and asks who's in charge, he says, "Who is the captain of this crowd"? No one answers they were all looking around, I think no one answers at first for a couple of reasons…first, this stranger that no one knows disturbs their party and wants to know where the king was…how did he get in, didn't they have guards or anything outside the castle, or wherever they were?? I mean the King was there with them, so anyone could just walk in?? and I also don't think anyone wanted to out the king, I think they were all waiting to see what he did, and let him speak up for himself!! Cause who knows if you would have gotten in trouble for outing the king if anything happened to him, you probably would have been put to death.

King Arthur finally speaks up and says he's the king and then the green knight tells him he wants to play a game!!! I would not even consider playing a game with this guy, but it said in the story that Arthur likes games and stories, so he's up for it. He tells them they get to chop his head off and then a year and a day later they have to find him and he gets to chop their head off. So the King wouldn't have to do this, being the noble knight that Sir Gawain is, he says he will play this game. I can't believe no one else stepped up and volunteered!!! So he chops off the knight's head and then the knight picks up his head, and rides away!!!!! HELLO, wouldn't he be dead!! How does that just happen, he doesn't even say anything, he just picks up his head and leaves, and that's the last time they hear from him.

The time comes that Sir Gawain has to go find this Green Knight, he searches for the Green Knight. Eventually he comes up to this place in the woods; the guys name is Peter and is the porter of the place. Eventually, the porter tells Gawain that whatever he finds in the woods he will share with Gawain, and Gawain must give him everything he is offered. Sir Gawain of course agreed to this! Just another game for Sir Gawain to play!!

The Beggar's Opera

Above is the picture that was in the book. In the picture I see two social status. This going off of the way they are dressed. Polly's family seems to be on a high status while Lucy and her father are not. All the while you have Polly begging to her father and Lucy looks to be reaching for the keys. They both want to see Macheath let go so they can find out who he really loves and wants to be with. I know the play must end happy but after reading the opera I feel Macheath should have been hanged. Throughout the entire play the women are always getting the bad deal, while really Macheath is the one that started it all by being with more than one woman.

I did enjoy how John Gay's The Beggar's Opera was different from what we have been reading. Since it is an opera it is geared more to impress an audience. I would have loved to seen this performed. It is meant to be a comedy and have a happy ending but like I stated it shouldn't have. But I know an audience doesn't want to see a tragic ending so they get what they want.

Here are my reasons and findings of discrimination and unfairness towards women.. Examples. Polly's family does not approve of her seeing Captain Macheath. pg 2619-2620 Peachum tells Polly " But if i find out that you have played the fool and are married, you jade you, I'll cut your throat, hussy. Now you know my mind." I'm pretty sure Polly is of age and her own women but yet she is not able to make her own decisions. She must keep her love affair with Macheath a secret. The in the song that Mrs. Peachum sing "Oh London is a fine town" at the end it says "Our Polly is a sad slut, etc." I would feel so down and degraded if my parents were to say words such as this about me. Parents are supposed to be there for support and answers not to degrade. With this in mind it seems that women were still not allowed to do much. There lives were controlled, but yet through the play we see the women sneaking around and getting what they want.

Polly's family seem so worried of what people may think. And again we see her family bad mouthing her. pg 2621 Mrs. Peachum to Polly "Not with a highwayman. You sorry Slut!" This being said after finding out the Polly has married Macheath.

Once her family realize that Macheath has money all that Mr and Mrs. Peachum want now is to capture him. In a way they want to protect Polly b/c Macheath is a player, but its all about them and not what there daughter's heart desires.

Act II: Scene 4 Peachum has a plan on how to capture Macheath and that is to bribe and seduce him by using Women. He will fall for the trick and is captured. as soon has Macheath realizes what has happened he calls the women "Wanton hussies" so far in the play it seems that every event that takes place women are the ones liable for it all.

In ACT II Scene 9 we see how Macheath truly is a player. Lucy is now introduced to the play and she is pregnant with Macheath's child. So now this is going to bring rivalry between Polly and Lucy.

Now Peachum and Lockit both know that Macheath has been playing both there daughters so they both want him captured. Mainly I feel they are only doing this for the money. Also in Act II scene 11 there is more discrimination toward the woman. Between Lucy and her father lockit pg 2637 Lockit "Whence come you hussy?" he is mad because she has fallen in love and she should be obeying her father.

after reading Act 11 Scene 13. It seems that Macheath is rejecting both Lucy and Polly. For both women it seems that they would realize Macheath is just a player and both leave him and be happy. But yet they both are in love and will fight to win him. This scene brings out that man is liable for the whole situation. It shouldn't always fall on the women.If it were me I would have just left the man. LOL

In Act III Macheath is now in Prison at Newgate and Lucy will help him to escape. Her father is not happy with her and again the woman is called names " pg 2642"Thou wilt always be a vulgar slut, Lucy. If you would not be looked upon as a fool, you should never do anything upon foot of interest. those that act otherwise are their own bubbles."

Lucy and Polly will keep fight over Macheath he will be captured and sentenced to be hung. But since this is an opera it should have a happy ending. The audience will get what they want. Macheath will be set free and will choose Polly as his wife. Still when he does choose Polly he seems to say it with sarcasm and does it b/c he has to choose pg 2656 Macheath"So, it seems, I am not left to my choice, but must have a wife at last." and he still calls her a slut on the last line...

I still see the Opera geared at blaming women..

Here is the link to all the music for the opera.

http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/al.asp?al=CDA66591/2

Idler No 31: On Idleness: Samuel Johnson

This was hard for me to understand, but how I took it was different personality traits that we possess being desribed in terms of people or identity such as, Pride, Sober, and Idleness. Johnson states that "Idleness predominates in many lives where it is not suspected; for being a vice which terminates in itself; it may be enjoyed without injury to others" (2678). Also Johnson explains that some people boast in full dignity of idleness such as "Busiris in the play 'calls himself the Proud" who boast that they do nothing,and thank their stars that they have nothing to do...whose whole labor is to vary postures of indulgence" (2678). He then goes on to explain that Pride is sometimes "hid under humility" (2679). And that people who are always "in state of preparation" is in a sense of idleness (2679). But that people who are conducting labor are not (but then are they in a sense of Pride or Sober). Lastly Sober which Johnson characterizes himself to be pleasures conversation, hard working, and attempts to work like a craftsman or a carpenter but is not so good at doing so, but he is rather an artist. But Sober does practice and tries to continue to improve at least he is not like Idleness who wastes away their days by doing nothing. I can not seem to wonder if this work has to deal with the rich and the working class and what the traits they possess? He asks: "What will be the effect of this paper I know not; perhaps he will read it and laugh, and light the fire in his furnace; but my hope is that he will quit his trifles, and betake himself to rational and useful diligence" (2679 and 2680). Therefore, Johnson is simply characterizing people from himself and comparing their traits to one another. Whether they are hard working, actually trying, or just floating by in life.

To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time: Robert Herrick

Robert Herrick seems to be a poet who talks about seizing the day and sexuality. "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time" speaks of just that- seizing the day. Herrick is urging the young virgins to celebrate life's pleasures and gifts of life before they are too old and regret not doing so: "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may/ Old time is still a flying/ And this same flower that smiles today/ Tomorrow will be dying (lines 1-4). Herrick is not encoraging these virgins to have sex but simply to get married and then share the bond and happiness together,now, that they are young: "That age is best which is the first/ When youth and blood are warmer/ But being spent, the worse and worst/ Times still succeed the former (lines 9-12). Again Herrick is encouraging these young adults to not waste their lives while they are young and still have time to experience life's finest things. Maybe he is also trying to inspire his readers to seize the day and then perhaps when you are old you can look back on your life and have no regrets because you simply experienced life to the fullest!?

Inviting a Friend to Supper: Ben Johnson

"Inviting a Friend to Supper" the speaker explains that "both my poor house and I/ Do equally desire your company"( lines 1 and 2). He describes the events of the night and the food they will be able to eat, but he also believes that people should indulge themselves (with food in this case) but be aware of the future. He states: "Yet shall you have to rectify your palate/ An olive, capers, or some better salad/ Ushering the mutton; woth a short-legged hen" (lines 9-11) and the speaker goes on about dessert, wine etc. He also explains that they will read a book. And like most hosts they just go over what is happening that evening. However, not only are they lucky to be eating these various foods when others are starving, but the speaker also touches on that lavish feast should be blessed but the future should be kept an eye on and aware. "Shall make us sad next morning or affright/ The liberty that we'll enjoy tonight" (lines 41 and 42). The speaker is obviously not worried about seizing the day but rather looking out for tomorrow. He does not seem to care about indulgence either and maybe that is perhaps to enjoy the moment and the blessing of this feast. Sometimes people seem to be torn down from their past mistakes and these elements should be avoided and rather used to better one's future and enjoy the life that they are given.

A Married State: Katherine Philips

Well good thing I did not read this before I got married (haha just kidding). But the poet is telling all the single women not to get married and they will not regret it: "Therefore Madam, be advised by me/ Turn, turn apostate to love's levity (lines 13 and 14). She also explains that by not marrying women would not have to worry about "no pangs of childbirth to extort your tears;/ No children's cries for to offend your ears" (lines 8 and 9). And she also says that even the best husbands are hard to please. Therefore, if women do not get married they wont have to deal with these disappointments or womanly duties that married women are faced with. With this said, maybe Katherine Phillips had a bad marriage and like most heart broken women she decided to right about it and warn every woman that they could go through the same thing: the husband that is never satified, a crying baby, and childbirth. However, just because she had a bad marriage if that is the case does not justify giving advice to all of these hopeless romantics and people in love that if they get married they are going to experience the same disappointments as she did.

"Love" by George Herbert

Like most of the metaphysicals they write about their religion and divinity to God. This poem titled "Love" is simply about the love the speaker has for God. And this poem presents a sort of drama between the poet and love. Love (my dear) is God. The poet feels unworthy of love or acceptance and he continually comes up with excuses to not be loved. The poet is sinful but God is willing to see past that. The poet is harder on himself than God is; he considers himself a human failure. Like many other sinners the poet must stop making excuses and accept God's forgiveness and redemption or even savior. Herbert is not saying that all sinners are saved and forgiven but if they have morals and a good side than that side is what makes them feel unworthy of being saved by God (on judgment day)?

The Good Morrow

I like "The Good Morrow" by John Donne. I find myself asking the same thing sometimes: " I wonder by my troth, what thou and I/ Did, till we loved? Were we not weaned till then, But sucked on country pleasures childishly" (lines 1-3)? This sonnet is a love story when the speaker,maybe Donne, asks himself what he accomplished or did before he met the love of his life. In the quote above he uses the word weaned meaning his love before this was immature or infant-like. Donne then explains he received this in a dream: "If ever any beauty I did see/ Which I desired, and got, twas but a dream of thee" (lines 5-7). In the second stanza, Donne is telling the waking souls good morning. Therefore, this new love is true and fits together, a new beginning or start at that. He says in the last stanza, "My face in thine eye, thine in mine appears/ And true plain hearts do in the faces rest/ Where can we find two better hemispheres" (lines 15-17). They are actually looking in eachothers eyes and perhaps they see each other, their love, and future? And because these two beings are equal and fit together then they sould live happily ever after in perfect harmony. If you go to this utube url then you can hear him read it in his language. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enyy1Ns2l0k

Absolom and Achitophel

Since I was not in class for this discussion. It greatly harmed me. I do not really understand what this poem is about. I understand the basics perhaps. I understand that Dryden takes events that are happening then and compares it to the Story of David. I cant help but comparing this story to our own economic and political crisis. But what are those exactly? Kimberly said that in class Dr. Kilgore handed out a handout that was an apology for his writings which undermines his responsibility to the text and she also stated that Dryden was paid by King Charles II to write this poem, so it can be used as propoganda! Why would Dryden write and apology for his writing if he did not have to fear anything and the point was to offend people? And he was supported by the King, but perhaps because the King just like the rich and royalty then would not take responsibility if Dryden would be punished? Maybe? Just like any hero Absalom went against his father, David. So my question is why? Was it because Achitophel wouldnt or because what Achitophel was saying bared truth? Or well did it? Absolom finally realizes that these must be true and realizes everything is really true. At the end David explained his love for Absolom even though he was deceitful. But instead of fighting he waited patiently for it to go on? correct? Dryden represents Charles II by David in the story, but at the end of the poem David tells everyone that he will overcome this with patience and be bigger than everyone else. Is this perhaps because Charles II wanted everyone to know this about him as well, hence paying Dryden to write this? I may be totally off on this, but I would like to know if I got the basic understanding of this. I thought this was a very difficult read. So what is the overall political stance he is making to obey and worship the King even if he has done things that are wrong?

The Lady's Dressing Room

"The Lady's Dressing Room" was rather disgusting but humorous. This poem made me research exactly what Pandora's box was and like Celia's box it contained some ill stuff in it. But the history of the box is "Pandora had been given a large jar and instruction by Zeus to keep it closed, but she had also been given the gift of curiosity, and ultimately opened it. When she opened it, all of the evils, ills, diseases, and burdensome labor that mankind had not known previously, escaped from the jar, but it is said, that at the very bottom of her box, there lay hope" (wikipedia.org). Therefore, the box contained Celia's shit is rather funny because like the Pandora's box it contained something rather awful. Swift's poem discusses how this goddess who seems so lady like is in fact not: "But swears how damnably the men lie, In calling Celia sweet and cleanly" (lines 17 and 18). The poem describes the contents in the dressing room: "Filled up with dirt so closely fixed/ No brush could force a way betwixt/ A paste of composition rare/ Sweat, dandruff, powder, lead, and hair" (lines 21-24). And this Stephon is determined to expose that she is not the goddess that she portrays herself to be. So his curiosity run wild just like Pandora's and he finds shit in her box: "Thus finishing his grand survey/ The swain disgusted slunk away/ Repeating in his amorous fits/ Oh! Celia, Celia, Celia, shits!" (lines 115-118). I wonder this: Montagu did not like Swift so does that mean that Swift did not like Mantagu? Because if so then perhaps Swift is talking indirectly about Lady Mary Wortley Montagu and how she may act so high and mighty that perhaps she is just like Celia and not at all.

A Modest Proposal

Okay, so Jonathan Swift is rather interesting don't you think? The Modest Proposal was not very modest at all. I think I understand the proposal that he is politically making to abortion and over population but in his morbid sense of consumption of children possibly he simply means that women before baring children should take responsibility for their actions. He proposes this idea with evidence and background which is rather critical in doing so. So his readers do not think he is crazy, hence his closing statement that he does not fall into this category because his youngest child is 9 years old and he has a wife past childbearing: "I profess, in the sincerity of my heart, that I have not the least personal interest in endeavoring to promote this necessary work" (2468). Jonathan Swift simply is coming up with a way to help the economy (in particular the poor) and starving of people in Ireland to sell their children to the rich. I wonder if he is comparing the economic struggles and mistreatment of England to Ireland? His modest proposal explains how there are many children born every year to the poor who add to the population. And because this causes economic crises onthe families he proposes they sell their children, not for slavery or adoption pursay. But to eat. To eat as if they were chicken and pork: "I rather recommend buying the children alive, and dressing them hot from knife as we do roasting pigs" (2465). He explains that "infant's flesh will be in season throughout the year, but more plentiful in March, and a little before and after" (2464). And that these infants can also be eaten during merry events: "others who might have (infant's flesh) at merry meetings, particularly weddings and christenings, I compute that Dublin would take off annually about twenty thousand carcasses, and the rest of the kingdom the remaining eighty thousand" (2467). He supports his proposal with reasons and benefits 1. greatly lessen numbers of papists 2. poorer tenants will have valuable of their own and ability to pay rent 3. the nations stock will increase by 50,000 pounds 4. breeders will not have to pay for their children after one year 5. it will become a great food for taverns 6. great inducement for marriage (2466). Therefore, with these "great" reasons why wouldnt parents choose to fatten their children up to sell them. This is definitely the most obsurd thing I have ever read. However, I assume there is a underlying problem he is addressing and he is not simply purposing for infants to be consumed for profit. Maybe he is hypothetically saying that England is technically doing this to Ireland, "eating" up their nation and mistreating them not only financially but ethically as well.

The Beggar's Opera

Above: The original script of the Beggar's Opera
The Beggar's Opera, a ballad musical, seemed to floor me. Perhaps because of the scenery and the fact that it was in prison (correct?) and amongst fugitives. As I read this, I thought of Romeo and Juliet and how Polly's parents were so against her secretly marrying Captain Macheath. Perhaps that is because he is a highwaymen and "highwaymen are generally very good to their whores, but they are very devils to their wives" (1617). But then a twist occurred and the parents plotted that if their daughter would kill her husband than she could take him for his money, considering he was a highwayman. And she was not going to be able to support him with her slutty ways. So, my question is, in this time did the women have to support the men? "Married! If the wench (Polly)does not know her own profit, sure she knows her own pleasure better than to make herself a property" (2617).Or was this just because they were pointing out that Polly was a hussy. But when she forbid to do that and sent him into hiding her father was even more furious and plotted with Lucy's father (the thief catcher and the warden) to kill him and split the money. Lucy, is another girl that Macheath promised to marry. Anyway there were many deceitful girls who were talking with Macheath and turned him in to Peachum. And after this, Lucy and Polly both claim that Macheath is their husband. And Macheath makes Polly seem stupid and denies their relationship. (Does he do this to save them both?) But because of this Lucy is still suspicious and tries to poison Polly. I do not understand why she does this exactly. What did Polly do to her? It is not her fault they both fell in love with the same man who ends up being a jerk and unfaithful. Perhaps that is why he is in jail. Anyway in the last scene Polly and Lucy find out that their fathers have found Macheath and both plead to save him, and on his judgment day he is willing to die especially considering four more women with four of his kids appear there claiming he is their husband as well. This really makes me mad, and realize how much of a dog this man is. He does not only lie and cheat, but he is not aware of the love these women have for him. He is willing to throw everything away for his sins. Which who blames him in his situation? Anyway the ending is rather ironic because they want to end this opera/ play with a happy ending: "Why then, friend, this is a downright deep tragedy. The catastrophe is manifestly wrong, for an opera must end happily" (2655). So they gather everyone there at his death spot to dance happily and then celebrate his mariage with Polly. I do not know about you but this was not very happy for me. I wanted the guy to die as cruel as that sounds. He does not technically deserve to be with someone as faithful and devoted as Polly. What do you think? Were your reactions the same as mine?

I found that without the Airs and ballads this opera would not make much sense. The music dialogue allowed the performers to express how they felt about the situation it gave us as the audience to get a glimpse into these characters and sympathize with what they were feeling. At times I wanted to laugh or I just shook my head...this opera allowed me to feel emotions while going through the plot. I did not like the fact that this play seemed to be downgrading women and viewing them as deceitful, stupid, and oblivious to everything around them. And women are referred to in deroggatory terms such as hussies, wenches, and sluts: "Our Polly is a sad slut...You baggage! You hussy! You incosiderable jade!" (2621). Also, at times that women depended on men and marriage and this made them property.

I found a website that goes into the history of this play it is http://www.umich.edu/~ece/student_projects/beggars_opera/.

Oroonoko, or, The Royal Slave

Hey all, sorry I am so late on my posts, haven't been feeling well. Anyway I do not know about you but when I was reading this story I could not help but think back to the past colonization of America, the New World, when the English thought that the indians were strange, barbareous, and weird due to their way of life and the fact that they did not wear clothes, care about money, and used their resources just like in Surinam. Aphra Behn, a great female writer, pulled her readers into this short story, narrated as if the readers were witnessing the same thing she was. When I was reading this I felt like I was a witness to Oroonoko's many deceits and disappointments. Behn writes about slavery and that no matter who you are people, England, does not care and if you are not careful can lead you to death. Behn gives the readers incentive to admire this prince. The fact that he is half African and black in a white powered society, who is a great warrior, and a handsome man who is very educated. She allows us as readers, to respect him from the beginning. How can we not "cheer" him on. He was described as being tall, piercing eyes, skin tone of ebony and polished jet, and white teeth and that "there could be nothing in nature more beautiful, aggreeable, and handsome" (2187). He also spoke French and English. So when people could view him it should not have been about his race or the color of his skin but simply his stature, poise, and amazing appearance. Behn explains this great prince and soon enough slave to never change and stay true to Imoinda and himself. He never lets the white men get to him.
Behn also explains Surinam in "ideal" imagery and descriptions similar to those of Utopia; however, in this case Surinam is not as perfect as it seems. Behn explains the different life forms, natives, and cultures. How beautiful the women are and how they are all naked and wear beads of all colors, without curiosity and in peace (2184): "With these people, as I said, we live in perfect tranquility and good understanding, as it behooves us to do, they knowing all the places where to seek the best food of the country and the means of getting it" (2185).
I feel that even though this story touches on slavery it is also about true love and how sometimes fate brings you together. In the two lovers here they are brought together before slavery and during. In which Imoinda still bears his child ( if lived long enough) and they risk each other's lives in order to die happy and together and not be banned for eternity to slavery, which saved their child for not having to do the same.
This story made me feel very sad and angry at times for the way that this great African prince was treated. For instance, the prince fell in love with Imoinda which so happens to be the old king's new affection and because of this the old King's jealousy purposely uses his power to his advantage. He knows that Imoinda is secretly sworn to the prince, but he sends the royal veil to her anyway while Oroonoko is hunting. In which she is forced to accept:"She loved Oroonoko entirely. This gave the old king some affliction, but he salved it with this, that the obedience the people pay their king was not at all inferior to what they paid their gods; and what love would not oblige Imoindato do, duty would compel her to" (2189). Therefore, Imoinda had no chance but to take the veil or her life would be in danger or put into slavery for disobeying the King. Therefore, they did what anyone else would do who were in love, and they tried to follow their passions and love anyway. However, they were caught and Imoinda was sent directly into slavery in Surinam followed by the prince (deceited again) being tricked into slavery. However, even arriving in Surinam this couple was reunited and continued their love there.
In Surinam the couple were given different names to wipe out their identity. And ironically enough Oroonoko's name was Caesar- a great Roman warrior: "Which name will live in that country as long as that glorious one of the great Roman" (2205). And Imoinda became Clemene who was still considered there as beautiful as ever. Therefore, somehow true love can not be escaped: "From that happy day Caesar took Clemene for his wife, to the general joy of all people; and there was as much magnificence as the country would afford at the celebration of this wedding: and in a very short time after she conceived with child, which made Caesar even adore her, knowing he was the last of his great race" (2208).
However, of course this story can not end in happiness, especially considering the whole point is to prove how slavery is brutal, but because England gains power for this they do not care. Anyway this tragic ending, which occurs in most slave novels and poems. The prince tried to lead these slaves to freedom but could not succeed in doing so. He realized that in order to same his family and himself from slavery he had to kill them: "He told her design of first killing her, and then his enemies, and next himself, and the impossibility of escaping, and therefore the necessity of dying" (2223). And as a heroic wife Clemene, Imoinda, was willing to do so, perhaps because she would rather sacrifice herself to her husband than be brutally killed by someone else. And then "he, with a hand resolved and a heart breaking within, gave the fatal stroke; first cutting her throat, and then severing her yet smiling face from that delicate body" (2223). And after he did this he laid by her body in tears and sadness until someone noticed the smell. (Have you guys ever read a Rose for Emily? this attachment from love is explained in a similar tone, except she had possible necrophilia) Anyway because of this Caesar did not have a reason to live anymore and sadly a good thing because back in Parham they did not only kill him but brutally assassinated him. They hacked him into pieces while having a pipe in his mouth. And as strong and noble as he was he huffed away on that pipe until they very last blow. It is hard not to feel sorry for this character, and perhaps that is because he seems like a perfect well-being and because of the color of his skin and the choice of his love he was banished. which ultimately lead to his tragic murder. And Behn wraps up her feeling as well as ours in the last paragaph: "Thus died this great man, worthy of a better fate, and a more sublime wit than mine to write his praise; yet, I hope, the reputation of my pen is considerable enough to make his glorious name to survive to all ages, with that of the brave, the beautiful, and the constant Imoinda" (2226).
I personally can not help to think about the slaves in this case and how they like the prince deserved a better fate, and like him they did not deserve this treatment.

A Modest Proposal

This proposal by Jonathan Swift is really crazy!! This proposal talks about women and even children begging in the streets to get to where they need to be. The mothers have to beg for money their little helpless babies instead of getting a job and as the children grow up, they either become thieves or leave their country. Another thing that he's proposing is that the parents will contribute to the Feeding and partly to the Clothing which will prevent abortions. I guess what he's trying to say is that having more children costs, so having them do a job will stop that. Everything of what Swift is saying about how the people should do their job is crazy. I think that he went after the lower class was because of they're standards. He's making alot of expectations for the poor to change the way they're living and to me, i don't thingk that this proposal is the right thing.

The Lady's Dressing Room Pictures

These two pictures are from the poem, "The Lady's Dressing Room." This is when Strephon opened the Pandora's Box and found Celia's "shit" and caught a fit. That was his punishment for peeping into someone's box.

The Lady's Dressing Room

This poem couldn't be more disgusting!!! During the beginning and middle of the semester, we've been discussing about love, sex, and betrayal. Now, i couldn't believe that we were talking about things that comes out of our own butts!!! This poem I guess is based on the word, "shit." And during our discussion, I thought it was funny because some of the people in been saying that "word." Anyways, this poem talks about what's happening in the lady's dressing room. Line 1 states, "Five hours (and who can do it less in?)" So it takes that long for a women to become beautiful? In Celia's case, I guess she needed that long, especially with the horrible stuff in the background. You have Strephon, who had snuck into the room described whats not only happening in the room, but what's in there. In line 20-26 it states, "The various combs for various uses,
Filled up with dirt so closely fixed,
No brush could force a way betwixt;
A paste of composition rare,
Sweat, dandruff, powder, lead, and hair;
A forehead cloth with oil upon't
To smooth the wrinkles on her front;"
Is that how she change herself? I mean she is a goddess. My favorite part was how Strephon was how he was looking around the room, and what caught his sneahy eyes was this pandora's box. What he didn't realized was that something horrible and gruesome was laying inside there. Once he opened it, he noticed there was a pile of shit and caught a fit just like on like on line 118, "Oh! Celia, Celia, Celia shits!" I think he deserved it because he did peeped in the box and the reading said that it was his punishment, but my question is did she poop in there or was it magic? The box is called Pandora's Box so it sounds like its a magical box or something...

The Beggar's Opera Act 1

I really enjoy reading this Act. I want to start off when Peachum put Bob Booty in the black-list. What is a black-list? I thought it was a type of bounty or something. He made a statement that once his money is gone, the ladies will hang him for the reward. I guess that's what happens to men who have or had "money." If you going to spend your life on the concept of being with women, women are going to expect them to buy them things. But once the monies gone, I guess they see that there's no use for them. So they kill them and take the things that's valuable. I see why alot of people say,"money don't grow on trees." Moving on, people are called whores, sluts, jades, and all that good stuff!!! It wasn't so good for Polly I can tell you that much....she had to end her love with Captain Macheath because of her two crazy ass parents. The Peachums was doing everything they can to have them separated, even if means making threats. The Peachums is asking her how is she going to handle herself, and of course hows she's going to take care of the Captain. I couldn't believe that Peachum threatened Polly to cut her throat if she were to play a fool and got married. This is what I don't get, why would he threaten her when he wasn't against his daughter's trifling and toying around?? (That was before she met the Captain). I mean even if she is married and she's entitled to the "money," its not like he's going to have anything to do with it. Peachum thought that in order to make things better, he told her to kill the Captain and take everything that he had. I felt bad for her because I thought that the parents were ganging up on her. Why wouldn't the Peachums want Polly to get married? Is it because of their reputation or is it because they know something about Captain Macheath that don't want it to crash the Peachums reputation? But it's sad how the act ended because Polly and the Captain had to part ways because of her sneaky parents and I thought that it wasn't fair. If she don't want to go with their stinkin' policies then she don't have to...but sad!!! sad!!!

The Modest Proposal

This story is so ridiculous, that all you can do is laugh. As I started reading it, I remember that I had read this story either in high school, or in another English class I took in college. But it's absolutely ridiculous, what he's proposing! But it definitely probably caught a lot of peoples attention also. How could it not, he's talking about selling 1 year old children in a market, like they are chicken, or beef, so you could eat them as a meal! What's even crazier is that he goes into descriptions on how this will work and when they will taste the best, and be the "plumpest"! I just think this is the craziest story that we have read, thus far in class!!

Oroonoko, or The Royal Slave

At first the beginning of the story didn't make a lot of sense to me, because she was discussing different cultures, and everything! But after I kept on reading the story, I really liked it. This story was somewhat different from all the other stories that we have read in class. I don't think any of the other stories we have read, talked so much about black people, and a black community as this one did. Which shows me that times are really changing, and it's becoming more acceptable to write about other things, and not just write to please the King or who over is in charge.

I like the fact that this is a love story, but its not just about love. Deceitfulness is also a major part of this story. I think it's pretty messed up how Oroonoko's grandfather goes after the girl he knows his grandson loves, and I think he knows they are married also...and he stills gives her the royal vail. And Imoinda has no choice but to accept the vail, I don't know what I would have done in her situation, because 1) that's disgusting, this old man wants you to be like one of his mistress!!! Gross! and secondly, she is already in love with his grandson and i think they are already married!! So that was Oroonoko's and Imoinda first separation, and yet they find a way to still be together and consummate their love anyway! The second time they get reunited is when Oroonooko gets tricked into slavery and Imondia is a slave their also. It shows that true love will always find a way to be!!

I think its funny that even though the place where Oroonoko becomes sold to as a slave, they all know that he is a prince and they treat him pretty good, well i guess better then other slaves! But yet they still keep him as a slave and tell him that the governor will let him go free as soon as he gets their. I also think its funny that they changed his name, once he was a slave. At first I didn't understand why, until I went back and re read the part where it explains why they change slaves names, Aphra Behn writes, "I ought to tell you that the Christians never buy any slaves but they give 'em some name of their own, their native ones being likely very barbarous and hard to pronounce". I think that this is pretty rude for them to do, I know that if I was ever slaved, I would want to keep my name, because its the only think left that's mine. I feel like by changing their name, they are taking away the person they are, which I guess that's what they wanted to do, because slaves aren't supposed to be their own person anymore! So even though I don't like that they change their names, I can still see why they do it.

I have to say I had mixed feelings about the end. I mean I know why Imoinda, let Caesar [Oroonoko] kill her, because they didn't want their child being born into slavery and they were pretty much doing it to save the babies life, and their life, so they didn't have to live in slavery anymore either, because they knew they would never be free again! But it was really disgusting when Oroonoko sat my his wife's body for days, until the smell got so bad, everyone came to see what it was. I mean that is so GROSS, because if it was that bad, think of how bad it was when you are sitting right next to the body!! Then they killed Oroonoko, but they didn't just kill him, they tortured him then killed him in pieces, which I think is just wrong. I mean you have already done so much to this poor man, that it was really necessary to cut him up into pieces! I don't think so!!! But he took it like a man, because it's what he wanted, he had nothing left to live for anymore, his wife was dead, and he was a slave, what else did he have going for him?? NOTHING!

Oroonoko

I thought it was pretty boring at first in the beginning of the story because it talked about Surinam, and its nature and how it the colony goes by its trades. On pages 2183 - 2184, it explains about how the natives are traded for much more things and how the people of Surinam live perfectly. They trade rare things for feathers and wreaths for their heads, necks, arms and legs. I like how they compared their type of nature to Adam and Eve's with the bead, the flowers, the apron, etc. To me, I thought they was trying make it look innocent. Then we get to the good and crazy part...you have Prince Oroonoko, who's known to be nice, innocent, charming, with good looks, and even speaks french and english!!! Now who wouldn't go for that!!! Now whats interesting, amusing, and scary is that this old man (who I believe is 100 or is pushin' 100 yrs old), beat the prince the see the beautiful Imoinda. He even gave her a veil. I understand why Oroonoko felt upset and mad. Him and Imoinda knew that by wearing that veil, she didn't had a choice in the matter but to spend the rest of her life with him. I think that Oroonoko felt betrayed as well because of course the old guy is his grandfather, and he didn't consider about the prince' feelings about her. But one thing that got to me was that Imoinda and the king of Coramentien had sex!!! Who would've thought that the king still had any fuel in his tank....anyways, I felt sad for Imoinda because she got put in for slavery. But I don't get it. She becomes the king's wife, she makes - out, and all of a sudden she's being sold. Was it that the king was just using her because of her looks or was it because of something else?!? Betrayal happens in this world because of different reasons in different situations. In this reading, betrayal happens because of the things that are going on. I didn't like the Captain because he was sneaky enough to invite him and his friends to his boat, but lied and took them captived. This gives me memories when the Somali pirates took the U.S. Captain...I also didn't like the Captain because of the promise that he made to Oroonoko for his freedom. I think he lied to him because of he wanted someone of his character to be sold. I guess someone like him is worth much more than everyone else that is being sold. Byam is also telling the prince the same thing about assuring his freedom, but telling him to surrender because of the whole escaping situation. I thought Oroonoko would've learned by now that if you're fooled once then you're going to be fooled again. On page 2223, was the beginning of the end. The reason why I said that was because of in the middle of the paragraph it states," he told her his design first of killing her, and then his enemies, and next himself, and the impossibility of escaping, and therefore he told her the necessity of dying, he found the heroic wife faster pleading for death than he was to propose it, when she found his fixed resolution, and on her knees besought him not to leave her a prey to his enemies." I think the hardest part for a reader to read is how one lover kills another, but in a way, it's all for the good. The way she accepted it and thanked him for everything takes great courage and alot of dignity. I believe that Oroonoko was the only person that saw her not only as a person, but as a woman.

Oroonoko, or The Royal slave

Oroonoko, or The Royal Slave was an interesting story. Not to sound to naive, but it has been one of the better stories that we have read this semester next to Beowulf. I was able to keep up with the whole plot, it was very easy to follow unlike some of the recent stories we have read.Its very interesting to me because his story is so unique(as far as I know). In this story you have a man with dark skin(of african persuassion) who is a prince. His grandfather is a king who had ten sons and one of them had sexual reations with an African women, thus the birth of Oroonoko. Oroonoko was different because his ancestory was of two different worlds. I agree with what Regina said in her blog. Regian believes that the entire book is about how true love is worth dieing for. That kind of came into my mind as well when I finished the story. I wouldent say that I was completely satisfied with the not so happy ending when Oroonoko gets chopped up.

Oroonoko

"The Royal Slave" So I have to say that I really enjoyed the story of Oroonoko. This book had many elements that could be interpreted in different ways. I see the Arthur Aphra Behn as trying to reach out to her audience that people in other parts of the world are good and also I feel that in her story she takes a defensive side to the slaves. In the story we see the main Character as a Black. I feel this was very different of what the English we used to reading. Behn is extending her writing and her audience on different cultures of the world. In every aspect of the story Behn makes you feel as if you were actually there in the story beside Oroonoke hearing his life play out. Behn writes as if she were really there meeting Oroonoko, which I believe is why I really got in to the book and to each character role.

The entire book for me was a about how true love is worth dieing for. I felt sorry for Oroonoko to see him betrayed so many times by his own kind, friends and family. With writing a story of this nature it really depicts Real life and what happens. It shows that life is not a fairy tale and that horrific tragedies do occur; but as humans we can each find our happiness and place in life.

After really thinking and re-reading the death of Imoinda, I can agree with her. Imoinda a slave already and now with child who when born will also become a slave why not die for your husband and child. Women then had no choice or say in any aspects and now being a slave just made it impossible to be able to have any word. Her love was so strong for Oroonoko that she was willing to die. She had so much respect for him; and Oroonoko would rather him kill her than some other person, who in terms could make her death more brutal than necessary. Pg 2223 "And then severing her yet smiling face from that delicate body, pregnant as it was the fruits of tenderest love." She died smiling on in the arms of her love. If I were in that time and had no way of ever speaking what I wanted I would do the same for my husband. Love is a strong bond between two people and in this story it is truly expressed.

Also another aspect that Behn expresses in the story is how women have no authority. One example being Imoinda being given the royal veil. pg 2189 " Tis not to be imagined the suprise and grief that seized this lovely maid at this news and sight. However, as delays in these cases are dangerous and pleading worse than treason,trembling, and almost fainting, she was obliged to suffer herself to be covered and led away"

Once again we see when Imoinda is caught by the King with Oroonoko he orders her straight into slavery. pg 2197 "He therefore removes her from the Otan, with Ohahal; whom he put into safe hands, with order they should be both sold off as slaves to another country, either Christian or heathen; 'twas no matter there"

In truth I loved how Behn portrayed Oroonoko as someone whose soul and body were so admirably adorned. He is loved both as a Prince and slave. Which again shows her favoritism of slavery and not liking it. Oroonoko was a fierce and true person. He had only one love and died by staying true to his background and never letting the white see him cry or hurt. After being brutally beaten then put to a gruesome death he stood his ground to the end. Never giving up.

Then the last line my favorite "Thus died this great man, worthy of a better fate, and a more sublime wit than mine to write his praise; yet, I hope, the reputation of my pen is considerable enough to make his glorious name to survive to all ages, with that of the brave, the beautiful, and the constant Imoinda.

True love; Behn still brings the last line to fit both Oroonoko and Imoinda.

Utopia- Book 1

The first book of Utopia, was a really slow reading, it kind of just dragged on for me! It never picked up and got interseting, it was just all a background story, and setting us up for Book 2. I thought that Book 1, could have been shortened by ALOT!! I mean, some information was useful to the story, about the argument the three guys had on what they did with thiefs and if that was an appropriate punishment! But I think that this could have been shortened to maybe a couple paragraphs as an introduction to Book 2...and not have a Book 1 & Book 2.

There was a couple of arguments in Book 1, about the way the country was ran, compared to what Rapheal had seen in Utopia. The first argument was about the punishment for stealing that they had in their country, if you were caught stealing you would be put to death! Which I think is ridicolous, think if we had that implemented today in our country...do you know how much violence and crimes would go up, because if you were put to death for stealing, you might as well do something really bad, like killing!!!

Another argument the guys had was whether Rapheal should go tell the King everything he saw in Utopia. The other 2 guys thought that Rapheal should tell the King the "solutions" he saw and his ideas. But Rapheal is against it, because he is afraid the King wouldn't like his ideas, and could be punished becuase they weren't liked or approved! Now in our times, people say whatever they feel could help with our country, unless it gets to out of hand, and violent, people are allowed to say whatever they feel, whenever they feel it. I couldn't even think of being afraid of going to the "King" (or in our case, the President) to tell him my ideas. It must be kind of like torture for them, because they know that what they have to say can help, but they won't say it, because the King doesn't always listen or take people's advice, even if it is good advice and will help.

Absalom & Achitophel

After discussing the poem in class, and getting some background information, I understand the poem alot better, than when I read it before class! I actually liked the poem, I think it's cleverly written, Dryden turned light on what was going on in that time, but disguised the poem and story by using the Story of David. It was mentioned in class on Wednesday that while reading this poem, you could relate it to today's economic and political times, what do you all think about that??

Proffessor Kilgore gave us a hand out in class, and it was a letter to the reader, and it was a basically an apology letter to the reader!! Once again, another writer, uses a piece of writing to make sure he does not affend anyone in the writing. But I think that its pretty ironic that he does this "apology" writing, because Proffessor told us that King Charles II, paid Dryden to write this poem, so it can be used as propoganda! I think most writers who writes "apologies", write them because they were afraid of offending the King and then the writer can be put in jail, or killed. But in this case, what was Dryden worried about, why would he write this writing making sure he did not affend anyone?? He already had the support of the King, he wasn't going to get into trouble!!

I can kind of see why, Absalom went against his father, David. For 1- I don't think Achitophel would have given up trying to get Absalom to be the leader of the rebellion...he wouldn't just take NO for an answer, he kept pushing! And 2nd- everything he was saying about David was true, it wasn't like he was making ANY of it up & after you keep hearing something after so many times, your going to start to agree with the person who is saying it! And thats exactly what he does, he relizes everything that his father has done & does. After he said he would lead the rebellion, he went out and got support. After the fighting was going on, David came out and said how he still loved Absalom and would just wait this whole thing out and be a patient man. Charless II was supposed to be represented by David in the story, which is kind of funny that at the end of the poem, David tells everyone that he will be, "the bigger man", in a sense! Which is what Charles II wanted people to see about him.

The twelfth night

I really enjoyed reading the twelfth night. I felt that there was a lot of action throughout the whole play from beginning to end!! I think that if I had seen this play back when it was written I would have really enjoyed it, I could just imagine, guys dressing up as girls, acting like guys! It must have been so funny!!
The play starts out with Orsinio, telling everyone how in "love" he is with Olivia! But I think the analogy he uses for love is really wierd, he compares the feeling of love to food and does not care if he dies from "over eating". I just don't understand how he could make that comparision?? Actually, Orsinio is not the only person in the play, who is in "love" and makes a wierd comparision to the feeling they are having! After Olivia first meets Viola dressed up as Cesario, she compares love to catching the Plague. How can someone compare the feeling of love, to one of the deadliest viruses??
Then we have Antonio and Sir Toby, Sir Toby is Olivia's uncle who is always drunk, what kind of play would this be without adding a drunk guy in it. It brings more humor to the play, which probably was already humorous enough! Antonio is also trying to get Olivia, but during the play, feels that she would never go with a guy like him and wants to just go home! Sir Toby always convinces him to stay and try and win her over. Of course, Antonio is another drunk and kind of an idiot, so everyone already knows that Olivia would never go for him, she really doesn't even notice him throughout the play!
A couple times in class, when mentioning Viola, the words "Gold Digger" was said, I agree that she could be considered a gold digger. I'm not sure if she really was just going after Orsinio because he was the duke, or if it was because she wanted to make a name for herself! I mean at this point, she thinks she is the only one left from her family, her father died and she thinks her brother is dead out at sea! So she needs a new way to survive, she probably has nothing anymore.
Througout the play Feste the clown appears, and makes the play even funnier with his antics. Although he acts like a clown and pretends not to know anything, I think he really knows everything thats going on! I think he's the only one who figures out Ceserio is really a women, until she tells everyone at the end of the play. I think he's really smart and just has to play dumb, but is probably laughing at all of them, for how "stupid" they are all being! I think alot of the other characters are the actual fools, I mean, everyone in the play is going after love, just to have it & then you have Viola dressing up as a man to work for the duke, to make a name for herself. I don't know if she didn't expect all the trouble that came with her dressing up like a man, but what a disaster!! I mean, Olivia falls in love with her dressed as a man and she can't really do anything but tell her no...however that really doesn't stop Olivia! Then Viola falls in love with Orsino, but can't say anything because she is a guy in his eyes!!
The only person I feel bad for is Malivio, the joke that Maria & Sir Toby played on him was kind of mean. Then again, in the letter they really didn't put anything in the letter specifically saying that Olivia loved Malivio!! It was just his ego getting the best of him & making him believe that, the letter had to be about him, because he was so desirable & who wouldn't want him!!
I think the ending is awesome! I didn't think it would end that way at all. I thought something bad was going to happen [because most of the time Shakespeares writings all have different endings then what you were expecting or they end in the opposite way that the story was going towards]. I guess in a sense everyone is happy because almost everyone found love, which is what they were looking for in the beginning of the play! I kind of figured that Maria was going to end up with Sir Toby as I was reading it, because the joke they played on Malivio. I don't think Orsino really cared he didn't end up with Olivia, because I feel like he just wanted someone to love him, which Viola did. And then Olivia ended up with Sebastion, Viola's brother, which I guess works for her, because he probably looks close to what Viola did when she was dressed as a man! I guess everyone got what they were looking for, LOVE!