3) There are many ironies present in the story. Choose one major irony and explain how/why the irony shapes the meaning of the story.
Dai Sijie's book is full of ironies, especially at the end of the book. One of the major ironies is hat at the end of the book, Luo and the Little Seamstress "switched" places. By the time Luo had started to see the world differently because of the re-education, the Little Seamstress wanted to go back to where Luo came from. Sijie set up this irony because it was unexpected and this made the book have more meaning. By showing that what Luo expereinced during those months on the mountain had changed him, and by showing that reading from a Western book about the city which the Little Seamstress had never seen before changed her, Sijie underlines the idea that a smalll amount of exposure to something can change the way one percieves life completely.
Another irony similar is that the books that we illegal and forbidden were thought to have brought beter things as an escape from the strict society, and at first theyt did. But after a while the books turned out to be he cause of many problems, particularly between the Little Seamstress and Luo. The book swere suppoesed to be a way that Luo and the Little Seamstress could free their minds from the confines of the society, but instead the books forced the Little Seamstress to leave in an ironic, unexpected way.
Irony is the major factor that makes te book what it is and Sijie uses it perfectly in a slightly subtle way that keeps the reader intrigued and gives the feeling that is intended.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Tree of Othello
The tragic vision in the play Othello is what the entire play is about. The tragedy of the play is what makes it great. Frye's metaphor about the tragic hero of the play being the great tree that is struck by lightening is perfect in the case of Othello. Because Othello is the tragic hero, he is the tree and is therefore struck by the lightening. Iago is the lightening that strikes Othello's life so suddenly and so forcefully. In the tragedy of the play, once one fire is set, it spreads to all of the other clumps of grass, which are the characters in the play who are not Othello. In fact, the characters other than Othello who get affected by Iago's lightening are, in some cases, affected more than Othello is.
Emilia is affected by Iago trying to make Othello suffer becasue she will obe and hang onto her husband through anything and do whatever she needs to do to make him happy. And in her blindness to the truth, while doing what Iago asks, she actually helps him to complete his evil plans to destroy Othello. This sets fire to Emilia because without knowing it she is doing evil and is betraying her friend Desdemona and Othello. Emilia's obsession with pleasing Iago blinded her from what he was doing and what she was doing to help him.
Roderigo and Cassio are also characters that are affected by the fires that started with Iasgo and spread through his plans to destroy Othello. Iago uses Cassio as an excuse for Roderigo to feel the jealousy that Iago feels. Through his manipulations, Iago gets Roderigo to attack Cassio because Iago is jealous of him. Roderigo is Iago's puppet that he uses to corrupt the lives of the other people in the play. Iago is also the lightening that strikes the tree because he tells Othello that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio and that sets Othello off on him. This is where the lightening strike spreads through the smaller clumps of grass.
All that Iago does to affect the lives of the different characters is all chaneled through Iago hatred and jealousy of Othello most of all. All that Iago tells people ad makes people do, he does so that he can get something that Othello has that he doesn't; Desdemona is one of these things. Iago is jealous of the love that Othello has for Desdemona and so he wants to destroy Othello because of it. Eventually, Iago attacks Othello's life and reputation so much that it leads Othello to commit suicide.
The tree of trgic vision in the play Othello is Othello himself. The lightening that strikes that tree is Iago and his actions. And in striking the tree with eil, Iago causes many more tragedies in the lives of not only Othello, but of all people that had any relation to him or Iago. Even though the lighening hit the tree dead on, the effect was felt by the grass around it as well.
Emilia is affected by Iago trying to make Othello suffer becasue she will obe and hang onto her husband through anything and do whatever she needs to do to make him happy. And in her blindness to the truth, while doing what Iago asks, she actually helps him to complete his evil plans to destroy Othello. This sets fire to Emilia because without knowing it she is doing evil and is betraying her friend Desdemona and Othello. Emilia's obsession with pleasing Iago blinded her from what he was doing and what she was doing to help him.
Roderigo and Cassio are also characters that are affected by the fires that started with Iasgo and spread through his plans to destroy Othello. Iago uses Cassio as an excuse for Roderigo to feel the jealousy that Iago feels. Through his manipulations, Iago gets Roderigo to attack Cassio because Iago is jealous of him. Roderigo is Iago's puppet that he uses to corrupt the lives of the other people in the play. Iago is also the lightening that strikes the tree because he tells Othello that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio and that sets Othello off on him. This is where the lightening strike spreads through the smaller clumps of grass.
All that Iago does to affect the lives of the different characters is all chaneled through Iago hatred and jealousy of Othello most of all. All that Iago tells people ad makes people do, he does so that he can get something that Othello has that he doesn't; Desdemona is one of these things. Iago is jealous of the love that Othello has for Desdemona and so he wants to destroy Othello because of it. Eventually, Iago attacks Othello's life and reputation so much that it leads Othello to commit suicide.
The tree of trgic vision in the play Othello is Othello himself. The lightening that strikes that tree is Iago and his actions. And in striking the tree with eil, Iago causes many more tragedies in the lives of not only Othello, but of all people that had any relation to him or Iago. Even though the lighening hit the tree dead on, the effect was felt by the grass around it as well.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Ah, Love....What?
Love is complicated because, well, look.
-Is it true love?
-Is it that you feel when you think it s true love?
-Is it that you have to love, like your parents, even if you dont like them?
-Is it love for a close friend?
-Is it love like you do the guy who brings you your wings with extra celery at Taco Mac?
Love is complicated because there are so many types of it.
You can't just like someone for doing something, you have got to have a reason.
Also, you cant really express the way you feel for someone that you love, you can only say that you do love him/her. And if someone asks you why and you reply because hes funny or shes smart, you know that you are not sayong everything because there is always that one unexplainable detail tha lets you know that you love them.
-Is it true love?
-Is it that you feel when you think it s true love?
-Is it that you have to love, like your parents, even if you dont like them?
-Is it love for a close friend?
-Is it love like you do the guy who brings you your wings with extra celery at Taco Mac?
Love is complicated because there are so many types of it.
You can't just like someone for doing something, you have got to have a reason.
Also, you cant really express the way you feel for someone that you love, you can only say that you do love him/her. And if someone asks you why and you reply because hes funny or shes smart, you know that you are not sayong everything because there is always that one unexplainable detail tha lets you know that you love them.
It Ain't Easy
Listen, being a teenager is not all the fun ease that you see in the movies. Its tough work. You are always worrying about something and someone is always worrying about whether or not you are worrying about that first thing you should be worrying about; Exhibit A: college.
Growing up means responsibility, and by the way things are lookin', I don't think anyone is ready for that. Lets just take one step at a time.
1) College: Being this age means that we have to start looking at colleges. It means we got to keep our grades up and have a social life at the same time. For some people, this could be a challenge. Right now, I'm sure that everyone is worryed about their grades and whether or not they will get into that one college that they've always wanted to get into. For me, I worry that with the hope scholarship letting lots of people in and making it tougher, that I won't get into my favorite school. And people are always like,"don't worry, you'll get in" and I'm always like "I'm not worried". Come on people! Of course I'm worried! Its college! Everyone is!
2) Jobs: Growing up means making a living and I don't want that. My parents told me hat I got to get a job this summer and that only makes me feel closer to being on my own. I know people always say that they can't wait to get out of the house or that they don't want to be with their parents anymore, which may be true, but how many do you think really don't want to live off of their parent's wallet anymore? Really? Everyone likes not to have to worry aboutt their own bills and incomes and spending limits and that shit.
3) Social Life: Being his age means that everyone got to be coola nd have friends. If you don't you're a loser. This can be very stressful and when combined with exhibits A and B, there can be problems. Its hard to keep up with school work and jobs when you are also trynig to "have a life".
Pretty much growing uip and being a teenager is not as easy as it sounds, but enjoy it while it lasts, it is still part of everyone's lives (and after this you on your own!).
Growing up means responsibility, and by the way things are lookin', I don't think anyone is ready for that. Lets just take one step at a time.
1) College: Being this age means that we have to start looking at colleges. It means we got to keep our grades up and have a social life at the same time. For some people, this could be a challenge. Right now, I'm sure that everyone is worryed about their grades and whether or not they will get into that one college that they've always wanted to get into. For me, I worry that with the hope scholarship letting lots of people in and making it tougher, that I won't get into my favorite school. And people are always like,"don't worry, you'll get in" and I'm always like "I'm not worried". Come on people! Of course I'm worried! Its college! Everyone is!
2) Jobs: Growing up means making a living and I don't want that. My parents told me hat I got to get a job this summer and that only makes me feel closer to being on my own. I know people always say that they can't wait to get out of the house or that they don't want to be with their parents anymore, which may be true, but how many do you think really don't want to live off of their parent's wallet anymore? Really? Everyone likes not to have to worry aboutt their own bills and incomes and spending limits and that shit.
3) Social Life: Being his age means that everyone got to be coola nd have friends. If you don't you're a loser. This can be very stressful and when combined with exhibits A and B, there can be problems. Its hard to keep up with school work and jobs when you are also trynig to "have a life".
Pretty much growing uip and being a teenager is not as easy as it sounds, but enjoy it while it lasts, it is still part of everyone's lives (and after this you on your own!).
Friday, October 26, 2007
Ma Famille
Your asking me about my family? Why? I mean, I dont know where to begin, you know? Lets see... I've got my mom, um... my dad, my brother.
First things first. I have a very clse relationship with my family. I know you hear people say I hate my parents, they suck, they never let me blah, blah, blah. Well my family isn't like that. I've never had to say that before so I dont know where they are coming from.
Everyone in my family is lots of fun, and I'm not just saying that. We go places and we do things. I like my whole family. My parents take my brother and I on vacation a lot and we always do fun stuff.
My mom is a lot of fun. She funny, shes crazy, she likes sports and TV. Both of us get along very well and there is hardly ever a time when one of us is mad.
My dad is the funniest person I know, and I know that sounds cliche because everyone says that, but its true. He always can come up with a joke that has to do with anything that ever happens. He also makes fun of everyone, even me. As a matter of fact I am his favorite victim. He is always calling me a moron or a jackass, but he is not doing it to be mean, he is normally doing it to make my brother laugh or because I was being a moron or jackass.
My dad went to UGA and my mom to Florida so there is always a sense of rivalry hate between the two and that is always a lot of fun. (When Auburn played Florida, he said he was rooting for injuries)
Now last and certainly least, my little freshman brother (he really is little: 4'6"). He is sometimes fun, but very often he gets into a bad mood and takes it out on me. When ever he is annoying, he will start trying to get me in trouble by yelling or something and then saying that I was bothering him and I provoked it. Whenever he is not being annoying or is in a good mood (1 out of 3 days), we are good friends and get along.
If you ever met my family it would seem normal, but if you were invisible and just saw us some random week night, you would think that we are the most functional disfunctional family ever.
First things first. I have a very clse relationship with my family. I know you hear people say I hate my parents, they suck, they never let me blah, blah, blah. Well my family isn't like that. I've never had to say that before so I dont know where they are coming from.
Everyone in my family is lots of fun, and I'm not just saying that. We go places and we do things. I like my whole family. My parents take my brother and I on vacation a lot and we always do fun stuff.
My mom is a lot of fun. She funny, shes crazy, she likes sports and TV. Both of us get along very well and there is hardly ever a time when one of us is mad.
My dad is the funniest person I know, and I know that sounds cliche because everyone says that, but its true. He always can come up with a joke that has to do with anything that ever happens. He also makes fun of everyone, even me. As a matter of fact I am his favorite victim. He is always calling me a moron or a jackass, but he is not doing it to be mean, he is normally doing it to make my brother laugh or because I was being a moron or jackass.
My dad went to UGA and my mom to Florida so there is always a sense of rivalry hate between the two and that is always a lot of fun. (When Auburn played Florida, he said he was rooting for injuries)
Now last and certainly least, my little freshman brother (he really is little: 4'6"). He is sometimes fun, but very often he gets into a bad mood and takes it out on me. When ever he is annoying, he will start trying to get me in trouble by yelling or something and then saying that I was bothering him and I provoked it. Whenever he is not being annoying or is in a good mood (1 out of 3 days), we are good friends and get along.
If you ever met my family it would seem normal, but if you were invisible and just saw us some random week night, you would think that we are the most functional disfunctional family ever.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Fate.... Fate?
All I know about fate is that it is on my side. Either that or I control fate.
No, but seriously, after studying and looking at how fate works, I walk away not knowing, I walk away wondering, questioning. None of what we have done in class has helped to clarify fate, it only adds more uncertainty. Though Oedipus has led me to come up with my own theories (see Fate vs. Freewill: Phase 2).
Harold Crick led me to think that maybe we aren't in control of our life and that the only way to change our fate is to finds our author. I think that there is no way of knnowing whether or not we are in control of where we end up and there never will be.
Anyway, Im not saying that I didnt learn anything, Im not saying that it was a waste of time, Im just saying that Oedipus makes me wonder more about fate. And in this class wondering is good, isn't it?
No, but seriously, after studying and looking at how fate works, I walk away not knowing, I walk away wondering, questioning. None of what we have done in class has helped to clarify fate, it only adds more uncertainty. Though Oedipus has led me to come up with my own theories (see Fate vs. Freewill: Phase 2).
Harold Crick led me to think that maybe we aren't in control of our life and that the only way to change our fate is to finds our author. I think that there is no way of knnowing whether or not we are in control of where we end up and there never will be.
Anyway, Im not saying that I didnt learn anything, Im not saying that it was a waste of time, Im just saying that Oedipus makes me wonder more about fate. And in this class wondering is good, isn't it?
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Fate or Freewill: Phase 2
I just thought of this after our discussion in class today.
Fate and freewill might not be different. Maybe freewill shapes our fate. Like cause and effect. Freewill is the cause and fate is the effect. They are the same thing. Choices you make are your own freewill, but what happens because of your choices is fate. FREEWILL (cause) --> FATE (effect)
Fate and freewill might not be different. Maybe freewill shapes our fate. Like cause and effect. Freewill is the cause and fate is the effect. They are the same thing. Choices you make are your own freewill, but what happens because of your choices is fate. FREEWILL (cause) --> FATE (effect)
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