Slaughterhuse-Five- Religious References

"If you think that death is a terrible thing, then you have not understood a word I've said." (142)

So, I may be taking a long shot here, but I've noticed a few similarites between Billy Pilgrim and Jesus Christ. Whether intentional or not, the author makes several references to Catholicism that I perceived as comparing the two. First, shown in the quote, Billy is urging the people he's speaking to to not view death as a terrible thing. This is much like Jesus, who teaches us that heaven, a place of joy and greatness, awaits after death. So both focus on the positive aspects of life since death is not lasting. Another part of that example that could be significant is that Billy, making a speech at a baseball field, is foretelling his death, his murder actually, concocted by Paul Lazzaro, which would be Judas.

Secondly, a quote from pg. 197 says, "Billy cried very little, though he often saw things worth crying about, and in that respect, at least, he resembled the Christ...." I must say I found it extremely ironic that Billy was crying over horses and not about any number of the gruesome stories he told in the novel. The example here is that Jesus did not cry at birth, which babies usually do. I'm not sure why that's significant, but it's a similarity between the two.

Lastly, even Billy's physical appearance, obviously awkward, is similar to that of Jesus' demeanor. He was an awkward match for war since he did not want to fight, nor was he ready to do it. Jesus shares the same kind quality. That, combined with the fact that Billy keeps wearing an "azure toga and silver shoes" (196) which (this is reeeeally a stretch) almost portrays him as a royal figure, leading the other soldiers, giving another comparison of Pilgrim and the Prince of Peace.

Slaughterhouse-Five- 1986 Prompt

"I, Billy Pilgrim, the tape begins, will die, have died, and always will die on February thirteenth, 1976." (pg. 141)

The 1986 prompt roughly says, "choose a novel an show how the author's manipulation of time contributes to the effectiveness of the work as a whole." Considering Slaughterhouse-Five is nothing but time travel, I thought this prompt was perfect. First, Billy's time-travel, real or fictional, adds an interesting perspective to the story. It allows the reader to be omniscient, unlike the characters. It also gives the reader many different viewpoints of Billy's life. I'm not sure what significance this has on plot, since it was hard to discover exactly what the plot was, thanks to the jumbled order of events. One thing that contributes to the effectiveness, though, is that it portrays Billy as an all-knowing character, automatically elevating his status in the readers' eyes. On the other hand, Billy's reputation is constantly diminished by his army buddies. Another thing it does is create suspense since the reader knows what events are upcoming, but they don't know the circumstances. So I'm not really sure how manipulation of plot helps the effectiveness of the work, but it certainly makes for an interesting story.

Slaughterhouse-Five- Theme

"The window reflected the news. It was about power and sports and anger and death." (pg. 200)

I think this quote perfectly sums up the theme of the novel, that modern society trivializes and glorifies blood and war. I think the author was particularly upset that we are not told accurate information, and the information that we are told is often in order for someone to make a profit. Towards the end of the book, Billy sees a shop advertising things about vicious competition, greed, and death. This obvious display of desensitization shows the reader that the author feels that war is not portrayed as the grim, personal "massacre" it is.

I know several authors have also written about this flaw in society. Some comment on it while others try and inspire a change. So far, similar works are "The Lottery," the poem we read early on this year, and probably a very popular example, the "Hunger Games" trilogy. Having only read the first one, I can still say they are based on a competition of ill-equipped soldiers (sort of like Billy) who fight to the death for no reason but to survive. This savage competition mirrors the unhealthy attitude of our media seen in Vonnegut's novel: glorifying war on TV, in video games, or movies.


May the odds be ever in your favor. And if they're not, so it goes.

                         

Slaughterhouse-Five- Time-Travel/Reality?

"It was about an Earthling man and woman who were kidnapped by extra-terrestrials. They were put on display in a zoo on a planet called Zircon212." (pg. 201)

This blog is mainly aimed towards clearing up the ending of the book. The quote, the plot from one of Trout's books, describes what Billy says he experiences throughout this book. My question is: which book is true? I'm assuming they didn't have the same story because that's just too much of a coincidence. So, was the time-travel throughout the novel just Billy experiencing memories? Or was it just hallucinations caused by the plane crash in Vermont? Either way, I'm still not set on the whole time-travel concept. I think it would be a really interesting concept to go back to any moment and be able to focus on the good instead of the bad. I also think that the Tralfamadorians' view of death as powerless is a good way to look at things. If death were momentary, no one would worry about death because they could always choose to redirect their thoughts. Or, that would give people an excuse to not fear consequences of their actions. As of now, I still don't understand the concept- if others were involved, how long it lasted, etc. I guess I'll just have to wait to be abducted by aliens.

Slaughterhouse-Five- Repetition

"There wasn't a sound inside the emaciated chest cavity. The Son of God was dead as a doornail. So it goes." (pg.203)

Probably the biggest example of repetition in this book is "So it goes." This phrase, inspired by the Tralfamadorians, sums up Billy's adopted view that since there is no time, death is only a momentary instance. And since this is the case, death is rendered powerless in this book. I'm not sure if that adds or detracts from the anti-war theme. On one hand, it shows that people today often lessen the impact of death with the argument that it occurs so often. On the other hand, it is saying that death is not a big deal, so this could work for both sides of the war argument.

Anyhoo, I picked this quote because it's a really interesting thought. When reading the book and seeing all of the "so it goes" basically every other page, I could see how death was desensitizing people, the exact point of the author. However, this scenario from Trout's book puts into perspective just how bluntk, redundant, and plain Vonnegut portrays death. So the author makes his argument doubly effective when he gives the ultimate example of decency and kindness dying as well as using these phrases to reinforce war's causing death to be mundane.

Slaughterhouse-Five

Kurt Vonnegut is almost as blunt as Glozell. Enjoy.

Slaughterhouse-Five- Opinion #2/ Tone

"A whole city gets burned down, and thousands and thousands of people are killed. And then this one American foot soldier is arrested in the ruins for taking a teapot. And he's given a regular trial, and then he's shot by a firing squad." (pg. 5)

This quote from early on in the novel is a perfect example of why I like this book. It's straight-forward, grim but sickeningly captivating, and easy to understand. As opposed to other works that practically write in another language, this novel is actually believable. The tone is one of the best parts about this novel. The author's participation in the military gives him an obvious bias but he makes his point clearly: war is massacre. The tone, therefor, comes from his negative personal experiences and his opinions on how to avoid future ones. The tone is also laced with dark humor and a bit of irony to the point where it's hard to tell which it is. For example, the author tells this story, a gruesome one at that, as a fictional one he will put in his book. Since it's so specific, I'm not sure if it was a story of his life or about one of his friends or simply false. Any way you slice it, Vonnegut's blunt, sarcastic, and eerie tone makes for a grim but believable and intriguing story.

Slaughterhouse-Five- Opinion #1/Abstract

"This was when Billy first came unstuck in time....And then Billy swung back into life again, going backwards until he was in pre-birth." (pg. 43)

Ok, so despite all the graphic, blunt imagery in this book, along with grim humor and vulgarity, I still really enjoy this book. A few things I don't understand are concerned with the book's abstract themes. The biggest one is time travel. First, the novel starts with Vonnegut telling HIS story about writing a book. Then, he reads us the actual book he wrote, telling BILLY'S story. So far, so good. Billy's story, however often talks about coming stuck and unstuck in time. I can see how time seems to go fast or slow, but stuck and unstuck makes practically no sense to me. And then in this quote, it talks about going back in time. Is this actual time travel, or does he just feel like it is?

Anyways, the other aspect that is just not as believable and real as others in the book is the fact that Billy thinks he was abducted by aliens. Did that actually happen? I think that would be interesting for him since they see 4D and he's an optometrist, but I can't decide if he's serious or a lunatic. Oh, well, here's a clip from Back to the Future. Totally relatable.

Slaughterhouse-Five- Characterization

"Billy was preposterous- six feet and three inches tall, with a chest and shoulders like a box of kitchen matches." (pg. 33)

This quote shows characterization of Billy, the eye doctor turned alien abductee turned soldier. I think this quote is a little bit ironic, too, because in addition to pointing out his bony features and awkwardness, the setting, the middle of a war, is even more out of place. This is direct characterization since it says that he is preposterous. It is also indirect because it uses his physical features to imply his awkward nature, especially on a battlefield. Another quote, from the same page, that I find humorous is Billy's reaction to nearly getting shot. "Billy stood there politely, giving the marksman another chance." (pg. 33) This quote shows how, along with his gigantic stature (see what I did there?), his "polite" demeanor proves him as ill-equipped for fighting a war. I'm not sure, but that quote could also show the anti-war theme. Billy was too polite, considered a good quality, which contrasts with his effectiveness in war, something the author rebukes as an evil thing. So at least Billy almost getting shot and awkwardly standing in the middle of the range of fire helped us readers learn a lesson. :)

OH, YES HE DID.

Slaughterhouse-Five- Style

"Celine was a brave French soldier in the First World War- until his skull was cracked." (pg.21)

This blog analyzes Vonnegut's style throughout the novel. His writing style is very sarcastic with a touch of dark humor, which is why I am really enjoying this book, even though it gets graphic at times. First, the author's style is influenced by the narrator's experience in war, adding to the desensitized tone. For example, in this quote, the author perfectly describes a heroic person, but then bluntly describes his death completely disregarding senstivity. The author's excuse, however, is that he was involved in a brutal war, a "massacre," which creates a lack of a sense of sensitivity and feeling. In a way, this helps the author's anti-war argument. The quote shows that by going through war, a person's sense of feeling is diminished which explains the blatant and graphic imagery. Another phrase the narrator uses is "and so on" or "so it goes." These phrases also show how the speaker is so used to death that it doesn't affect him anymore. The argument he uses is that the time a person spends dying is nothing compared to all the time they spent happy, so that logic itself is acceptable. The fact that he claims he learned it from the Tralfamadorians is a bit sketchy....

Slaughterhouse-Five- Theme

"I have told my sons that they are not under any circumstances to take part in massacres," (pg.19)

The literary term for this blog is theme, which can be seen very early on in this book. This book, as stated on the back cover, is an anti-war book. This quote depicts Kurt Vonnegut's theme that war is bad and should be stopped. First, the author doesn't even use the word war here. By using the word massacre he is implying that war is an unnecessary killing of large numbers of people, regardless of the outcome. This opinion of the author is evident throughout the book, both present and past time frames. Also in this quote is the father's insistance on his sons not joining the army-once again, not "join the military," but to "take part in massacres." His command that no one in his family should take part in war shows a couple key things: the fact that he fought in a war and is saying this shows that it was not a pleasant or rewarding experience, and that Vonnegut's aim of this book is to promote a totally anti-war philosophy.

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN

I think this was the sound Walton heard when he was writing to his sister...totes creeps.

Frankenstein-Opinion/Was it worth it?

"You seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardetly hope that the gratification of your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has been." -pg. 13

This quote, all the way back from the letters at the beginning of the book, summarizes my biggest question at the end of the novel: was it worth it? or What did we learn from this? This question is aimed at Victor/Walton in regards to their purusit of never-before-seen knowledge. In aswering this, one must consider all the consequences of their actions and how the conditions are presently. SO, because of Victor's ambition, he created a monster, which nurtured by hate, grew to be malicious and bloodthirsty. This led to the extermination of practically everyone Victor knew. First, Caroline died attending to Elizabeth, William was murdered, Justine unjustly executed, Clerval strangled, Elizabeth murdered, as well as the passing of Victor's father, leaving Ernest with a majority of his family erased. The consequences of Walton's actions are far less severe: a near-mutiny and braving the harsh weather at the North pole. If anything, Walton learned from Victor's dreadful story and stopped his. Ironically, Victor told Walton to finish his efforts- to kill the monster- which conflicts with him telling Walton to leave the North pole.

So, the greatest advancement I see is the reanimation of non-living parts into a living, breathing being. This discovery, however, was lost because Victor, the discoverer, regreted it and died before revealing its secrets, and the creation itself, intended to burn himself with all of the other papers of the experiment. For Walton's sake, I would say the story was worth it, and even if it didn't teach a great lesson, it told a great thriller.

Frankenstein-Opinion/UUU.

"Oh Frankenstein! generous and self-devoted being! what does it avail that I no ask thee to pardon me?" -pg. 163

This opinion blog is in response to the question, "Wy has the creature come to see Victor?" According to the text, the creature came to Victor to apologize for all his misdeeds. It seem he repented at the last minute and rushed to confess and admit fault. Never heard that one before... Anyways, it's probably obvious that I do not agree with the monster's actions-past, present, and future, and I'll tell you why.

PAST: First, the monster tries to be gentle, which doesn't work, so he burns down the DeLacey's cottage. Then, he expects people to judge him on personality even though he is a monster (in which case, judgemental people are also at fault, but he could've handled the situation better). When that doesn't work, he tries to force friendship onto William, which doens't work out, so he kills him. Then more killing, and psychological torture. It seems as though his response for not getting what he wanted (which he might not have deserved) was to either burn a house down, threaten people, or just go on a killing spree.

PRESENT: He comes to Victor, after he's led him to a cold and desolate place to fight him (a fight which, let's be honest, is not even close). He is still sneaking onto the boat creepily rather than reasoning with humans.

FUTURE: The monster, out of guilt, plans to burn himself, so no one can see how to create another monster. Instead of doing better things and redeeming himself-maybe trying to make a female for himself, he decides to just go commit suicide.

My point is, although the monster's words may have been sincere, he was too late in admitting fault. There's not a whole lot of redemption in apologizes to bodies.

Frankenstein-Ch. 2-24/Suspense/Foreshadowing

"I shall be with you on your wdding-night" -pg. 141

This quote, repeated several times throughout these chapters, is one of my favorites because it is open for interpretation. That also means it is psychologically tormenting Victor and also creates suspense through its foreshadowing. First of all, (this is gonna sound dark) I love how the creature is taunting Victor which causes him to agonize over this quote. The fact that the creature is getting inside Victor's head is cruel and amusing at the same time, as well as ironic since the creature is attacking Victor with his own creation, himself. Anyhoo, this quote obviously creates suspense because the reader knows the creature will follow through on his promise and that something, probably something bad-  no wedding gift :( "I BROUGHT A TOASTER"- will happen, and we don't know what. We just know the monster is now out for blood and revenge, and will stop at nothing to make Victor miserable, which always makes for a good story. Lastly, this is foreshadowing because something terrible does happen on his wedding night, Elizabeth's murder.

Side note- I think it's brilliant that Victor was like, "Stay here, Elizabeth, by yourself, all alone, with a bloodthirsty monster coming to get you....while I go check on things outside." For a genius scientist who created life from a bunch of dead peoples' parts, he doesn't seem to have a whole lot of common sense.

Frankenstein- Ch. 18-21/ Mirroring Creation/Death Scenes

"I thought with a sensation of madness on my promise of creating another like to him, and trembling with passion, tore to pieces the thing on which I was engaged. The wretch saw me destroy the creature...and withdrew....Several hours passed...and the wretch whom I dreaded appeared." -pg.121-122

This quote, on top of being really creepy, something I didn't expect from such a popular story, shows tons of parallelism between the destruction scene and the earlier creation scene. First, once the creature has seen Victor destroy his lady friend, breaking their agreement, he flees. (This I don't understand: you're so angry someone has broken your promise, your only chance at hope and happiness, so you run away. I guess he was just blowing off steam...Also, I'm still confused as to what the creature does during that time period-killing Clerval, perhaps?) Anyways, just like the first scene, Victor retires to his room and comes back several hours later. And after that, the creature reappears, just like he did the first time. Both times Victor retreats out of fear, but at least he has a good reason to run away this time.

Also something that I noticed (probably not right) was that the first time, Victor ran away from the monster. But the second time, the monster was the first one to leave, and then later return. I saw this as a shift in "masters" or that it signifies that the creature is the one "calling the shots" now, and Victor is pretty much forced to do what he says. I am at least happy that Victor didn't go through with making a female monster. If he had done that, there could have been so many things that could go wrong. I guess the monster will just have to live without a lady friend to call his own. Poor sasquatsch. :'(

Frankenstein- Ch.13-17/ Characterization/Irony

"Felix had accidentally been present at the trial; his horror and indignation were uncontrollable when he heard the decision of the court. He made, at that moment, a solemn vow to deliver him and then looked around for the means." -pg. 87

This quote regards Felix's feelings towards Safie's father's unjust imprisonment. This shows his characterization because it reveals Felix to be a compassionate, selfless person, in contrast to Safie's father. Risking his own life to free a stranger led to his love, Safie, who embodied similar qualities. This also gives us insight on why Felix was so unhappy. This creates sympathy in the reader for him, until later...

Another characterization of Felix, however, shows his dark side. When the creature had finally summoned the courage to talk to the father, Felix saw this apparent danger and started beating the monster with a stick. This indirect characterization shows that Felix also prejudges and is quick to act without thinking-obviously, since his father was okay while in the monster's presence, the monster wasn't really a threat. From this point, the audience is probably rooting for the monster, since he was innocent. That is, until, he burns down the cottage. So now the reader is rooting for no one.

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN

Gotta love Cloris Leachman

Abby Normal - the Creature's brain

Frankenstein- First Half/Realism

"Abhorred monster! fiend that thou art! the tortures of hell are too mild a vengeance for thy crimes. Wretched devil! you reproach me with your creation; come on, then, that I may extinguish the spark which I so negligently bestowed." -Victor Frankenstein (pg. 68)

So, for my other opinion blog, I'm talking about how realistic/probable this story is. First of all, creating a life from different corpses is absurd, but there are huge questions that arise because of the lack of simple logic. This quote is a perfect example of three things I don't understand in the book:

1. "for thy crimes" = the monster's bloodlust and criminal activity condemns him to a fate worse than hell. Victor hasn't even seen the monster for two years! How does he know the monster is a criminal? The only evidence of the monster murdering William is that he was seen as the scene of the crime, which could be suspicious or a coincidence. Either way, Victor is basing his critical judgement of the creature solely on his first encounter with the "demon."

2. "you reproach me with your creation;" Victor was the one who made the creature; he is responsible. That's like blaming a kid coming to school late because the parent slept in. He blindly accuses the monster of vicious crimes just because of his appearance, and even if he did commit crimes, it was Victor's nurturing-or lack thereof- that conquered over the creature's good nature.

3. "come on, then, that I may extinguish the spark which I so negligently bestowed." = Come here so I can kill you. Lastly, what does Victor thinks he is going up against? He created a gigantic, hideous monster from different dead body parts in a slaughter house, only to see that the creature is as intelligent, if not moreso, and he wants to fight him? ARE YOU CRAZY?! How did he not realize that this thing he was making was going to be huge? I guess he didn't expect to succeed in his experiments, or else he would have thought of what to do with a sasquatch. The present situation is a fight of a huge beast versus a suicidal, emaciated scientist. Who do you think is going to win that fight? Y'know, the monster might be the more intellectually advanced being after all....

Frankenstein- Ch. 6-8/ Who Dunnit?/Characterization

"She nursed Madame Frankenstein, my aunt, in her last illness, with the greatest affection and care....She was warmly attached to the child who is now dead, and acted towards him like a most affectionate mother." -Elizabeth Frankenstein (pg. 56)

This quote depicts Elizabeth speaking to Justine Moritz's innocence. It also shows a great deal of characterization. Specifically, this is indirect characterization because Elizabeth doesn't come right out and say Justine is innocent, but she gives evidence through Justine's actions that she wasn't a harmful person, let alone William's killer. Another defence that Justine was unjustly convicted and killed was that "surprise, horror, and misery were strongly expressed" when she was at her trial. I haven't read ahead, so I'm not sure if she was actually the murderer, but according to these accounts, I think Justine was innocent.

The only other suspect mentioned was the creature, because he was spotted (granted, only by Victor) at the scene of William's murder. This is suspicious, and not likely a coincidence. As far as motive, I see none, and even if there were a motive, how would the monster be able to frame Justine and go after a certain target that just happened to be Victor's brother. Because the monster's nature is good, I don't see him as a killer either. Either way, all will soon be revealed. I can't wait much longer!

Frankenstein- Ch. 1-5/The Creation

"I had worked hard for nearly two years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body. For his I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart." -Victor Frankenstein (pg. 35)

This quote describing the first moments of Victor's reaction to his creation show a great irony. First, Victor had spent two years wasting away, working sleeplessly to create life, to do something that was considered honorable and never been done before. After all this toil, he finally reaches his goal. The irony comes in as Victor is disgusted and terrified by his own creation. The irony is simply that ardent work and study should bring pleasure while Victor's labor brought him nothing but horror.

Another irony and maybe paradox (I'm not sure) is that Victor believes, from its first breath, that the creation is evil and wants to kill him. From reading ahead, we know this is not the case, and because the creature was inherently good, his behavior was caused by others' hatred of him. The possible paradox is that the creature is first shown as so disgusting (Victor can't even stay in the same room with him) with yellow-ish eyes, "gigantic stature" from different corpses, and "grin-wrinkled cheeks," is actually a kind and intelligent individual. Even though the creature recognizes itself as a monster, there is little hope that society will not react in the same fashion as Victor.

Frankenstein- Letters/Foreshadowing

"You seek for knowledge and wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope that the gratification o your wishes may not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has been." -Victor Frankenstein (pg. 13)

First of all, I think this is one of my favorite books I've read. I'm not really into horror movies since I'm a whimp, but this book makes it both interestingly terrifying and tolerable. It's definitely boring, which is a big problem with reading for me. Anyhoo, my literary term for the Letters section is foreshadowing, one thing that adds to suspense and honestly, a bit of confusion. In this quote, Victor is telling Robert Walton that his ambition for learning may lead to devastation, just like his did. This comment not only reveals that Frankenstein's quest for creating life was a success, but that it had a bad outcome. Obviously, his creation has "stung" him, so that begs the question, "Who, what, where, why, and how" did this to Victor. This foreshadows the story of what happened in between the creature's creation and present time.

Another instance of foreshadowing that creates suspense is when the men on Robert's ship see "the shape of a man," implying its freakish nature, driving a dogsled. This seemingly random event raises so many questions- most of them still unanswered. What we do know is that Victor is desperately chasing the monstrosity he created and is getting beaten.

Frankenstein- Ch. 9-12/Irony

"I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel, whom thou drivest from joy for no misdeed. Everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone am irrevocably excluded. I was benevolent and good; misery made me a fiend." -the Creature (pg. 69)

I take many things from this quote from the Creature (I've found the book easier to read by calling him Sasquatch). The first thing is that Sasquatch is nothing like Victor believed. The presumably bloodthirsty and inherently evil monster is actually gentle and inherently good, despite everyone else's initial beliefs, creating the irony that the monster is in many ways the opposite of what he seems.

Besides contradicting the view that the monster is evil, this quote also debunks the idea that the monster, made by human will, would be inferior to humans intellectually. The monster is actually shown as an intellectual equal through his fast learning and eloquent speech. Another example of the monster's intelligence is the allusion he makes- while his creator, Victor, should love his creation, like God loved Adam, Victor punishes him and calls him names like "devil" and "demon." This creates sympathy for the Sasquatch's character, I think, because it shows he was and is judged merely by appearance, not his "gentle demeanor" or urge to be accepted in society. It sort of assigns blame or a demeaning side to Victor, basically making him a hypocrite.

First, Victor created Sasquatch, so whatever it does reflects Victor. In addition to that is the fact that from the moment of life, Victor was terrified of the monster and, while he didn't abandon the monster, he didn't go out to search for it. This brings to my mind the analogy of, per say, a parent who is out late every night and pays little to no attention to their child. How is the monster guilty of the crimes he commits (if he even commits a crime, which I don't think he did) if his only family dismisses him, calls his names, and tries to kill him? Because he is really inherently good, and is nurtured to behave badly, I am rooting for Team Sasquatch.

A Raisin in the Sun: Opinion/Glass Menagerie

"Man say to his woman: I got me a dream. His woman say: Eat your eggs. Man say: I got to take hold of this here world, baby! And a woman will say: Eat your eggs and go to work." (Walter, 33)

I really enjoyed A Raisin in the Sun because of its realistic nature. The Glass Menagerie was also realistic in the characters, but not in the effects on the stage. That said, I liked ARITS because it is so much like TGM and even more realistic- to me, better.

First off, the characters are basically the same in each play. Mama and Ruth are relatable to Amanda, whileWalter is extremely like Tom. First off, in the scene including this quote, a key point of the plot is introduced. In this scene, Walter is trying to tell Ruth about his business idea about opening a liquor store with Willy Harris. Meanwhile, Ruth is ignoring him and telling him to just "eat your eggs." I can see how this would be extremely frustrating-being ignored when you have something exciting to share. That's probably why this story between Walter and Ruth is easy to grasp. Anyways, Walter's motivation is that he wants to escape from his mundane, ordinary lifestyle (hmm, sounds familiar) and make something of himself by going into business. And Ruth, ignoring his dreams (still familiar...) tries to convince him that his dreams are pointless, to give them up, and to come back to reality. Unfortunately, just like the other play, this conflict of interest just creates tension and hostility within a relationship, driving it between the two, resulting in Walter's habit of going out to drink, come home drunk, and start dancing and shouting in African. At least Tom got out while he still had his dignity....

                         OWIMOWEH!

A Raisin in the Sun: Generation Gap (#5)

"Once upon a time freedom used to be life-now it's money. I guess the world really do change..." (Mama, 74)

The question addressed here is: show how Raisin deals with the generation gap- the problems that the older generation has in dealing with the younger generation and vice versa. The first example is the difference in religious beliefs of Mama and Beneatha. While Mama is faithful, Beneatha doesn't believe in God. Although to members of the same generation, this dispute might seem trivial, the discrepancy between mother and daughter is a much bigger deal. Beneatha's disbelief in God comes off as ignorant or selfish to Mama, who is a fervent believer.

The next example is the fact that Beneatha wants to become a doctor. Her mother, Mama, is a maid for others, and her brother, Walter, is a chauffeur. This shows her family is not wealthy, and does not really have extraordinary ambitions to do something with their lives. Bennie breaks this stereotype of Mama's ordinary and mundane lifestyle and is determined to make something of herself. This difference in life goals sets Bennie apart from the other family members.

The last example, from the quote above, is a huge conflicting point of view for Mama and Walter. Mama states that growing up and raising a family, her focus was on freedom, and being set in the 1960's, the play comes in just as Civil Rights are being discussed. Walter, on the other hand, seemingly cares only about money. Even though he just wants to make something out of his life by going into business with Willy for a liquor store, Walter's blunt urgency to have money creates a great gap between Walter's and Mama's views on important things in life.

A Raisin in the Sun: Pressure (#4)

"I-I just seen my family falling apart today... just falling to pieces in front of my eyes... We couldn't of gone on like we was today....When it gets like that in life- you just got to do something different, psh on out and do something bigger..." (Mama, 94)

This blog addresses question #4, asking which characters were pressured into taking an action they wouldn't normally take because of other people or outside forces. There are countless examples of characters who do things because of pressure from surroundings or others. The first example is when Beneatha cuts her hair. She was satisfied doing up her hair until Asagai, her on-again-off-again boyfriend, criticizes her for not being natural enough, and being an "assimilationist." She then cuts her hair in an effort to break her stereotype and please Asagai.

The next example is Ruth's consideration of an abortion. Because Ruth and Walter Lee have a son, Travis, it is clear that Ruth isn't emotionally opposed to having children. The problem is the family's economic situation. Given that the couple lives in a run-down house with three other people, sharing basic necessities, the family cannot afford another mouth to feed. Because Ruth is in a tough spot financally, she considers having an abortion and even making a down payment on the procedure.

My last example is the one from the quote, and a key part in the play's plot: Mama's decision to buy a new, better house. Because of the detrimentality of the house, Mama realizes that the harmful atmosphere is only hurting the inhabitants. Reacting to this hostile and chaotic lifestyle, Mama uses her check to invest in a new, hopefully more promising home.

Bartleby = Laura

I couldn't help but notice that Bartleby and Laura share an innate sense of shyness and awkwardness when it comes to human interaction. And hey, Bartleby's free, and if/when things with Jim don't go well, these two awkward love birds would make a great pair.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-9tAqdd_4Y&feature=related

Laura's face when she heard Jim's name ^

The Glass Menagerie: Relatability

"The world is full of young men employed in warehouses and offices and factories.
Do all of them find adventure in their careers?
They do o they do witout it!" (1252)

I think this is one of my favorite plays because, even though it's not really intense or scandalous, it's very realistic. For instance, the quote depicts a conversation between Amanda and Tom, but it's also a conversation I think many people have still today. The yearning for something more than what's available is a timeless and universal feeling that we all share at some point in our lives. And incorporating that feeling in a simple character like Tom creates a very relatable story line that the reader can connect to. Also, the characters' actions are pretty realistic, unlike characters in "As You Like It", persay, who convert, fall in love, and change their lives in like four days. So while this play isn't as action-packed as some of Shakespeare's plays, it is certainly more realistic, and therefor easier to read and to empathize with.

Another aspect that makes this play believable is the setting: St. Louis, not some city in Italy, or a forest, or a pirate ship. With "normal" characters, not princes or military officers, a normal setting, and normal issues like the audience, this play definitely has a wide appeal.

The Glass Menagerie: Allusion/Plot

"Oh, I can see the handwriting on the wall as plain as I see the nose in front of my face! It's terrifying!" (1253)

This quote reveals another commonly-used literary device in the play: allusions. It also reveals a big part of the plotline and a potential conflict of characters. First, the context of this quote is the secretive conversation between Amanda and Tom about Laura's characteristics influencing her romantic life. The quote is ultimately Amanda's biggest fear of Laura: that she is too awkward or shy to find a suitable husband. And the "handwriting on the wall," basically implying that something bad is about to happen (hinted at by the "ominous music" in the backround), is that Amanda's biggest fear will come true if the meeting of Jim and Laura proves unsuccessful.

Having read only the first 6 scenes so far, I suspect the conflict of Laura's awkward, anxious nature, combined with Amanda's over-parenting and Jim's laid-back attitude will soon unravel. Y'know, Laura kind of reminds me of Bartleby; in the scene we watched, he couldn't make a simple decision and worked himself up about it. That's a lot like Laura's inability to answer the door when a possible high school crush showed up. Admittedly, that could be awkward, but considering the girl couldn't even talk to another human being, I'm rooting for Jim to find another lady.

The Glass Menagerie: Irony

"But I get up. I go! For sixt-five dollars a month I give up all that I dream of doing and being ever!" (1247)

One of the literary devices used so far in the play is irony. One example is shown in the quote above. This scene is where Amanda is questioning Tom's suspicious routine of going to the movies, staying out late, and drinking, which causes her to think he's selfish. On the contrary, he voices his argument, saying he is the one who supports the family by giving up his dreams and working, unlike Amanda or Laura. So it's ironic that Tom's activities make him a bit unlovable, yet he is the one financially holding the family together.

Another instance where irony is present is in the conversation between Tom and Amanda about how a girl either becomes a businesswoman or marries a successful man. In regards to failing to find her husband's true character, Tom says, "Then how did you happen to make a tragic mistake?" (1259). So another irony is that Amanda is preaching to Tom about how Laura needs to find a wholesome man with character to marry, yet Amanda's husband ran off sixteen years ago, so she has no room to talk.

Also, a bit of irony and juxtaposition is when Amanda tells Laura that the gentleman caller she will be meeting is James O'Connor, a high school crush of hers. Instantly, Laura freaks out, having another sort of panic attack, to the point where she struggles to open the door. So this scene went from an obsessive mother getting prepared to show off her disinterested daughter to an extremely anxious daughter with a calm and charming mother.

"Rosalind: the Tranny of Venice"

I saw this picture and started wondering what a play combining Othello and As You Like It would be like. Hopefully there would be more tragedy and betrayal and deceit, not just characters who magically fall in love with cross-dressers.


Rosalind and Othello ^ in "Rosalind: the Tranny of Venice"
I'm trying to imagine how Othello would punish Rosalind for dressing up as a man and making Phebe fall in love with her/him. Also, Iago would have a field day manipulating people in this play. If they believe Rosalind was a man, there's bound to be a good reaction when he tells them that there's been some action "'twixt the sheets." I could even see a musical version of this, with such timeless classics as "Rumor Has It," "I Will Always Love You," and "Somebody to Love." It's all coming together!

"If sight and shape be true, why then, my love adieu!" (V.iv.76)
Ok, so it's good I have an opinion blog left because the ending of this play really ticked me off.  The first thing that set me off was how Ganymede, an unknown man who strangely looks like a woman, traveling with his sister (to get the full effect of my anger and suspicious, you have to imagine furrowed eyebrows and lots and lots of air quotes), magically got four couples to get married on the same day. No one thought it was odd that a random man asked a stranger to promise to marry another person? Anyways, not one character thought it was sketchy that the magical person who arranged these four marriages wasn't even at the wedding!? Ridiculous.

Then the quote from Act V shows peoples' reactions to the unveiling of Ganymede. So when Phebe finally realizes that Rosalind, a woman dressed as a man who she fell in love with in like a day, is actually a man, she says a sentence and leaves. What is that?? Scenario: you just found out you instantly fell in love with someone pretending to be a man and now, because of a bargain, have to marry another man you were disgusted by yesterday. And what's even better, she just shrugs it off, like, "Oh, you fooled me!... Ok, I think I'll marry someone else now!"

I think I despised the ending because it was so realistic, and the timeline for the play was just off. There's no way all these characters plotted to kill each other, cross-dressed, changed their religious views, were attacked by lions, and tigers, and bears (Oh my!), and all got married in under a week. I guess the abrupt ending could be a sign of Shakespeare's disinterest in his last comedy play. Well, way to go, Bill. It wasn't very funny. I'd just stick to the blood and betrayal in tragedies. :)

As You Like It- Court vs. Country Life

"Truly, shepherd, in respect of itself, it is a good life; but in respect that it is a shepherd's life, it is naught." (III.ii.35)

One theme discussed throughout the play is the "court vs. country life" argument. It begins in Act III when Corin and Touchstone voice their opinions on each lifestyle. This part was a bit confusing for me, considering Touchstone speaks in paradoxes the whole conversation. Anyways, Touchstone basically says he would find the country life good...if that was the only option available. It's like settling for a hamburger, but then you're offered a steak. And the court is Touchstone's steak. Corin responds by acknowledging that country life is good for hard work like raising "fat sheep."

 The next topic in this conversation is brought up when Touchstone tells Corin, "Why, if thou never wast at court, thou never sawest good manners; if thou never sawest good manners, then thy manners must be wicked; and wickedness is sin, and sin is damnation. Thou art in a parlous state, shepherd." Showing his equally impressive logic, Corin argues that country manners at court would be just as ridiculous as court manners in the country. At this point, the characters start talking about kissing hands in the court and performing surgery on sheep in the country, along with cat juices and all that good stuff. At least in this play the characters talk out their opinions instead of just stabbing each other.

As You Like It- "All is not what it seems."

"A lean cheek, which you have not; a blue eye and sunken, which you have not; an unquestionable spirit, which you have not; a beard neglected, which you have not;" (II.iii.44)

One of this play's theme's my group addressed was "all is not what it seems." This is just one of countless examples showing the theme. This quote is from the conversation between Rosalind, dressed as Ganymede, and Orlando, when she tells him that he must not be in love because "love is merely a madness" and he does not look mad. Although it seems he isn't in love according to Rosalind, Orlando is truly in love with her.

Another obvious example is when Rosalind decides to dress as a man and use that to tell Orlando how to "woo" her. Although everyone except Celia believes Rosalind is Ganymede, she is actually a woman.

My last example of this theme is in Act II Scene 4, in the conversation between Rosalind and Touchstone. During the talk of love, Rosalind contradicts the popular thought that Touchstone is a fool since he is a jester. But while most people are just amused by him, Rosalind points out to him that, "Thou speakest wiser than thou art ware of," showing that he is actually one of the more witty characters in the story, just with a bad reputation.

One argument against this theme is Jaques's character. The reader is introduced to "the melancholy Jaques" (II.i.18) and that's exactly what the audience gets. Later on, he cries for a deer that's been shot, calls Orlando "Signior Love" out of sarcastically, and at the end of the play, leaves the wedding party because he's got better stuff to do. So the seemingly melancholy Jaques was indeed a Debbie Downer. What you see is what you get.... At least he has a cool name.

Reflective Blog

  The play Othello provides several timeless themes which are timeless; being timeless, these related works can be seen throughout history, even in modern culture. One of these omnipresent themes is that jealousy is a powerful, often destructive force. Besides being evident in Othello, this theme can be found in the television show The Office and the book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. While the situations in these sources differ in details, the end result and feelings behind it are extremely alike.
 "I hate the Moor" Scene-Iago

First, Othello emphasizes how jealousy is a powerful emotion with fatal consequences when Iago plots Cassio’s death, saying, “And, in conclusion, nonsuits my mediators, for, ‘Certes,’ says he, ‘I have already chose my officer’” (I.i.15-17). This is just one of many early signs of jealousy and contempt, along with Iago’s obviously resentful speech regarding Othello, swearing, “I hate the Moor, and it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets he’s done my office. I know not if’s be true, but I for mere suspicion in that kind will do as if for surety” (I.i.366-370). These initial evidences of jealousy grow steadily through the play and cause Iago to take drastic measures like manipulating foolish Roderigo, bullying Emilia into silence, and pleading honesty and love to Othello, only to achieve his goal of eliminating threats to his success; this extreme jealousy eventually results in the deaths of Roderigo, Desdemona, Emilia, and Othello.
                                                                                                                             Episode 3: "The Coup"
Next, The Office echoes the same theme in the episode, “The Coup” where Dwight Schrute, a wickedly clever, ambitious, and determined co-worker goes behind the boss (Michael Scott)’s back to meet with a boss, Jan Gould, from their branch’s corporate office. Dwight’s jealousy of Michael’s power as regional manager results in him lying to the person he was most loyal to, saying, “I’m going to the dentist. I have to have an emergency crown put in” (Lieberstein). Although Dwight attempts to overtake the office, Michael confronts him about the instance and punishes him, making him wear a sign that reads, “Liar,“ hanging his head in shame, and doing his laundry for a year. Michael adds, “I don‘t know if I can trust you anymore“ (Lieberstein). Dwight’s willingness to betray his trusting boss by meeting with Jan to talk about how he “could run the branch better than Michael,”(Lieberstein) shows that the consequences of his jealousy, while somewhat trivialized by humor in this instance, are indeed powerful and have lasting negative impacts in that they diminish the once trusting and loyal relationship between these two characters.

Lastly, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows reflects this timeless theme of jealousy’s destructive consequences when Ron Weasley is emotionally challenged by a horcrux, which unleashed Voldemort’s voice, essentially torturing the person who opened the device. Saying, “’Least loved, always, by the mother who craved a daughter…Least loved, now, by the girl who prefers your friend…Second best, always, eternally overshadowed…’ (Rowling, 375-376), Voldemort exploits Ron’s greatest, ever-present fears, feeding the fire that is Ron’s jealousy of his brothers and of Harry’s reputation. Then again, Voldemort’s voice, in the persona of Hermione, says, “’Who wouldn’t prefer him, what woman would take you, you are nothing, nothing, nothing to him” (Rowling, 377), swelling even more the jealousy and hatred growing inside Ron. Finally, Ron snaps. “The sword flashed, plunged: Harry threw himself out of the way, there was a clang of metal and a long, drawn-out scream” (Rowling, 377). This sudden act of pent-up jealousy and anger towards a true friend shows that jealousy has the incredible power to manipulate the most trustworthy and loyal of people when in dire situations. So, although Harry, Ron, and Hermione still remain friends, Ron’s outburst and looming jealousy of Harry proves a constant conflict during their travels as well as its hampering their close-knit circle of friends.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Horcrux Scene

In conclusion, while the causes, means of showing it, or consequences of jealousy differ, the idea that jealousy is a powerful and usually destructive force, shown in Othello and these two other works, is universal in that the people affected by it often lose out on relationships that without jealousy could have been salvaged.

Works Cited

Lieberstein, Paul. "The Coup." The Office. Dir. Greg Daniels. NBC. WNBC, New York,
New York, 5 Oct. 2006. Television.

Perrine, Lawrence. “Othello.” Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense. Forth
Worth. Harcourt College. 2002. 1361-1462. Print.

Rowling, J. K. "The Silver Doe." Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. New York:
Arthur A. Levine, 2007. 375-78. Print.

Keep on Tryin'

 "Keep on Tryin'" - Poco

This assignment was a toughy because it turns out there are a lot of songs about jealousy, lust, and betrayal. I found one that was a little less violent, but still relates a great message evident in Othello. "Keep on Tryin'," by Poco, a band from like the 60s, but their song's message is still relevant. Anyways, the song is about a person who is "full of doubt" and who "just can't let it be." The singer states they want to "confide in all that is true." But, if that person "keeps comin' back for more," the other person will "keep on tryin.'" I think this really mirrors Desdemona's relationship with Othello. This is like this couple's situation because theirs involves doubt, infidelity, and a lack of trust, mostly on Othello's part. When Iago plants a seed of doubt in Othello, he begins to worry if Desdemona has cheated on him with Cassio, and slowly but surely, he is convinced she is a whore. Desdemona, on the other hand, claims innocence throughout the play, and she is right to do so. Staying loyal and honest throughout the story, she even goes so far as to tell Emilia she killed herself when Othello smothers her. Her devotion is fueled by her true love for Othello, despite his doubt and accusations. And because of this love, Desdemona continuously tried to convince Othello of her integrity (Act V), and she overlooks his vengeful actions even to the end of her life. So, because she "keeps on tryin,'" as well as the fact that she "lays it on the line to find a way to get on home to you [Othello]," she upholds her reputation as one of the few good guys and one of my favorite characters.

The original, from the 1970s, was in pretty bad condition, so here's a high-quality with a guy on a horse. :)                                                                         

 

Just because there are too many songs, and I had too many ideas, here are a few songs I think fit nicely with some of the characters:

Othello: Rumour Has It- Adele/ Love the Way You Lie- Eminem

Desdemona: I Will Always Love You- Whitney Houston

Iago- S&M- Rihanna/ Circus- Britney Spears

Emilia- Feeling Good- Jennifer Hudson/ Believe- Cher

Cassio- Hurricane Drunk- Florence + the Machine

Roderigo- Glamorous- Fergie

Montano- I Need a Doctor- Eminem

Introducing a new hit show coming to your TV next fall...

The Real Housewives of Venice!

SCANDALOUS.
                                                                                             

Iago for President

"I told him what I thought, and told no more Than what he found himself was apt and true." V. ii. 175-176
So, recently, I've been drawing a lot of comparisons between Iago and politicians. They're both smooth-talkers, people-pleasers, and they get the job done. And by that I of course mean that they kill off minor characters for no apparent reason. Anyways, because Iago is represented as the protagonist telling the story, I think I'm going to have to side with him. While despicable and vile in ways unimaginable, you gotta admit, he's talented. He can manipulate anyone around him without them knowing it- Roderigo, Cassio, Othello, Emilia, just to name a few. He pleases anyone who's around him, telling them what they want to here. And he's been known to, after delivering bad news, whip out a guilt trip on the person who should be angry at him. Just one example is when he "confesses" Cassio's dream and actions to Othello, who half-strangles him, when Iago then makes Othello feel bad for punishing honesty and love.

This guy would be a great world leader! He's obviously very passionate about leadership (or plotting the leader's gruesome death). That's not to mention he's efficient (considering he in/advertently killed 5 people in a matter of days), people love him before they know what he's done, they trust him blindly, going as far as to put "money in thy purse," and overlook anything he's done wrong, as shown in the quote. As bad as it sounds, Iago has the potential to be the perfect dictator. Point one for the bad guys!  >:)
                                                                                          ^ Iago's creepy smile

Othello Act V

"Cassio did top her, ask thy husband else. Oh, I were damned beneath all depth in Hell But that I did proceed upon just grounds To this extremity. Thy husband knew it all." V. ii. 135-138

Addressed here is the question about whether the play is a tragedy, comedy, melodrama, or farce. I would say that this play is a mixture of tragedy and melodrama, maybe with a sick sense of humor thrown in. First, I think it's safe to say the play is a tragedy because, like most things Shakespeare wrote, half the cast dies. It also shows the unraveling of the arguable protagonists Othello and Iago. Othello's flaw, his gullable and quick-to-anger nature, or Iago's not-so-fool-proof plotting.

Next, the play could be characterized as a melodrama because of the dramatized actions of the characters. Shown in the quote, Othello's thought process was essentially solid. He thought he was doing what was just, and simply believed the word of a friend, but he definitely overreacted-killing Desdemona-to show the manipulation of his character. Although the drama makes for an unrealistic scenario, the actions effectively show how quickly characters can change in a plotline.

Finally, one could argue that this play includes a comedic flavor because of the irony. For me personally, Iago's cunning and suck-up-ity (yes, I just made that up) created a perfect, honest image of himself when in reality he's a sick jerkface who manipulates people just because he can.

Othello Act IV

"But, Roderigo, if thou hast that in thee indeed which I have greater reason to believe now than ever- I mean purpose, courage, and valor- this night show it. If thou the next night following enjoy not Desdemona, take me from this world with treachery and devise engines for my life." IV. ii. 207-211
This blog addresses the question of protagonists, antagonists, and foil characters. First of all, unlike most stories, the protagonist is the bad guy. While the audience still probably hates Iago, his point of view in telling the story makes him the protagonist. I, on the other hand, hate him, so I would consider him an antagonist. One could also argue both positions for Othello. Basically, I think if you respect clever evil, Iago is your protagonist, and if you value truth and justice, Othello is your man.

There are a few foil characters in this play. The first is referenced in the quote above. This back-and-forth between Iago and Roderigo shows that opposites attrack in a repetitive but somehow humorous fashion. Several times we see Iago calm Roderigo down in an effort to use him to kill Cassio, supply jewelry, or maybe just for a good laugh. This shows Iago's personality: clever, manipulative, evil. On the other hand, Roderigo shows his true colors by constantly returning to Iago: dim-witted, malleable, and good (by default). The only reason I didn't hate Roderigo was because he was too stupid to be evil. He just followed what Iago said. Another pair of foil characters are Desdemona and Emilia. For example, in the conversation about the perfect woman, Emilia is portrayed as timid, quiet, and complacent, especially in the presence of her husband Iago. Desdemona is, however, more confident and outspoken, and plays along with Iago's criticism. Until the end, when Emilia spills the truth, she is shown as a weak character whereas Desdemona was truly innocent throughout. It's such a tragedy she died...along with half the cast. 

Othello Act III

"Therefore be merry, Cassio, for they solicitor shall rather die Than give thy cause away." - III. iii. 26-28

Personally, I find the suspense and irony in this play to be what make it easy and enjoyable to read. It is an interesting point of view to hear the story from the antagonist. In most stories have the hero explaining everything, the reader is compelled to "root for" the person telling the stories. However, here, it's a different story. The fact that Iago, the "bad guy," is telling the story doesn't make the audience cheer for him, but it shows the cunning, careful planning, and the alternate personalities of him, which I find really interesting. I love the suspense that is created due to the fact that we the readers know more than the other characters, and we can't wait to see how Iago's plans will unfold. Besides suspense, irony is absolutely everywhere in this drama. The biggest example I've noticed is that Iago has been called "an honest fellow" (III. iii. 5) on several occasions. I can just taste the irony that everyone thinks highly of Iago when, in actuality, he is plotting something despicable for nearly every character. The fact that he is a woman-hating, critical, jealous, and bitter person merely sweetens the deal. Lastly, I thought this quote was ironic in that it shows Desdemona practically pledging her loyalty to Cassio in a non-romantic manner, even to the death. This is probably foreshadowing of some drastic action Othello will take. He will suspect Cassio and his wife of doing the dirty, and kill her out of a false sense of betrayal. SCANDALOUS.

Othello Act II

"Two things are to be done: My wife mut move for Cassio to her mistress, I'll set her on, Myself the while to draw the Moor apart And bring him jump when he may Cassio find Soliciting is wife. Aye, that's the way. Dull not device by coldness and delay." - II. iii. 345-351

This post addresses #4 on pg. 1119, addressing how suspense is created. First off, sunspense is a very big portion of this play so far. Starting sort of in "the middle of things" in the lives of the characters, rather than before conflict occurs, the audience experiences the tension right off the bat. Next, suspense for me is created mostly in Iago's soliloquies. For example, in this quote, Iago has just told Roderigo that it will take a little time for him to win over Desdemona, but Iago's real intention is to anger Othello, discrediting Cassio, and getting revenge for not being promoted to lieutenant. Showing his alternate personalities, Iago's speeches show his true colors and create suspense by creating two scenarios: what the audience is honestly told about Iago's intentions, and who other characters perceive Iago to be. Suspense is also created in the discrepancy of the amount of information the characters know versus what the readers know. This creates the effect of on-edge eagerness to read ahead. Even though Iago spells out the entirety of his innermost thoughts, the reader feels an urge to continue because the reader does not know how or when those details will be revealed to the other characters or how his plains will unfold.

Othello- Act I

"And, in conclusion, Nonsuits my mediators, for, 'Certes,' says he, 'I have already chose my officer.' And what was he? Forsooth, a great arithmetician, One Michael Cassio, a Florentine," - I. i. 15-20

This response is for the first question in the book regarding the play's realistic conventions. I think this play is extremely realistic and easy to relate to. First of all, it is based on a scenario that happens in real life, not just to a certain age, race, or particular area. The issues of racial stereotyping, jealousy between once-friends, infidelity, and competition are omnipresent in every culture. One example of this is how Iago's jealousy of Cassio's job promotion causes him to plot against Othello, shown in the quote above. And the fact that the reader can see this happening in every-day life makes reading this piece easier to comprehend and more enjoyable. On the spectrum from literalistic imitation of reality to stylized or surrealistic representation, the play is situated closely towards reality. I'm not sure if there are breaks from the conventions established as a norm in the play. One could be that the marriage of a white and a moor (African) is not socially acceptable, but Othello and Desdemona stay together anyways. This creates the dramatic effect that what those characters are doing is scandalous and must be stopped, creating suspense that leaves the audience asking the question: how far will Iago will go to create chaos and separate them?