“[They suddenly bump into the table, and the glass piece on it falls to the floor. Jim stops the dance.]
Jim: What did we hit?
Laura: Table.
Jim: Did something fall off it? I think-
Laura: Yes
Jim: I hope that it wasn’t the little glass horse with the horn!
Laura: Yes [She stoops to pick it up.]”
The Glass Menagerie, Act VII pages 85-86
The Glass Menagerie is a short play, set in 1937, that revolves around Amanda Wingfield’s effort to get her daughter Laura married. She has her son, Tom, invite over one of his co-worker and friend, Jim, in hopes that he will be kind-hearted enough to over look Laura’s bad leg. Little do Amber and Tom know that Jim is superficial and newly engaged.
The passage above is taken from the final act of The Glass Menagerie, where readers expect Jim and Laura to somehow fall in love. The author Tennessee Williams has them share a some what intimate moment in which the two talk about life after high school and dance. Instead, this excerpt was installed by Williams to confuse his readers; he gives them a sense of false hope for Laura, knowing that she can never be loved by someone as superficial as Jim. The glass figure that breaks in the passage, serves as an ominous warning. Any chance of Laura finding happiness with Jim is lost when the main topic of their conversation, Laura’s glass unicorn, is broken.
After reading this passage in the play, I was extremely happy for Laura; I thought the glass unicorn breaking meant her shyness was lost, that she could finally find happiness with Jim as a secure adult. I was completely wrong, but after breaking the figure, Williams further confuses readers by having Jim kiss Laura. When Jim finally confesses that he is in love with another woman and will never see Laura again I was devastated. I felt bad for her, not only did she have a pushy mother, but now she was going to be alone.
The spell was broken by the head messenger. " Let me pass!" he ordered. "What do you want here?" "The white man whose power you know too well has ordered this meeting to stop." In a flash Okonkwo drew his machete. The messenger crouched to avoid the blow. It was useless. Okonkwo's machete decsended twice and the man's head la y beside his uniformed body. The waiting backcloth jumped into tumultuous life and the meeting was stopped. Okonwo stood looking at the dead man. He knew that Umofia would not go to war. He knew because they had let the other messengers escape. They had broken into tumult instead of action. He discerned fright in that tumult. He heard voices asking: Why did he do it?" He wiped his machete on the sand and went away.
Chapter 24, Page 188
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe is a novel about how the spread of European Christianity and European Colonialism destroys the traditional African way of life. The novel focuses on the Ibo society in Niger. Achebe gives a deep insight into the way of life and the culture within the society by following the life of a strong village leader, Okonkwo. The story shows how Okonkwo rose to his greatness, how he began his demise, and later his attempted redemption that only led to his death. After showing the way of life in Ibo society, Achebe introduces the White settlers from Europe whom act peaceful and righteous while spreading their influence mainly through Christianity. And when the European settlers move into the Ibo society things begin to fall apart. The European colonists take over the Ibo society and destroy their way of life.
This scene is the climax of the most important part of the book. The European just recently disgraced the leaders of the village of Umofia by cutting off all of their beards and hair and now the people are having a meeting in order to discuss what they should do. As soon as the European District Commissioner heard about the meeting he sent his messengers to have it stopped. Okonkwo saw that if they continued to obey the European colonists, they would take full power of the nation. Okonkwo felt that the best way to resist this would be to have a war against the European colonists and force them elsewhere. However, when Okonkwo made the first strike to the enemy, none of his people supported him as they were expected to. He saw that the village of warrior people that he once knew and loved no longer existed. He then knew that there was no hope for his people; they were going to be overtaken by the White man. Okonkwo felt so shameful that he committed suicide, for he could not bear to see his dear village fall to the power of the European colonists.
This passage brought to light the way that the European colonist took over and devastated Africa. Previous to reading this book, I was confused on how it could be possible for the Europeans to walk in to Africa and just take it over as it was portrayed in most of the textbooks that i have studied from. But now I see and understand. The European colonist pacified the African people to the point in which they lost their fight. And those who retained their fight were so few that they could hardly make a difference. ( However, there are is one exception to this and that is in the case of Ethiopia [led by His Imperial Majesty Hailie Selassie I]which was the only African country not colonized by Europe. )
Personally, i was greatly saddened by this story simply because it was a sad part of the history of my people. And for such a proud and strong man to die in the manner that Okonkwo does is truly tragic.
In the contemporary novel, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey there is one essential passage that basically marks the whole turning point in the novel.
“McMurphy says again that he guesses it must be game time and he stands up … Nobody else stops work. … Everybody keeps on at what he’s doing, but they all watch out of the corners of their eyes while he drags his armchair out to in front of the TV set, then switches on the set and sits down. … ‘Hoo-wee! Man, all I need me now is a can of beer and red-hot’ –McMurphy …We can see the nurse’s face get red and her mouth work as she stares at him. … then she gets up and goes to the steel door where the controls are, and she flips a switch and the TV picture swirls back into the gray. … To tell the truth, he don’t even let on he knows the picture is turned off; he puts his cigarette between his teeth …and sits that way with his hands crossed behind his head and his feet stuck out in a chair … ‘I said, Mr. McMurphy, that you are supposed to be working during these hours.’ –Nurse Ratched …And we’re all sitting there lined up in front of that blank TV set. … If somebody’d of come in and took a look, men watching a blank TV, a fifty-year-old woman hollering and squealing at the back of their heads about discipline and order and recriminations, they’d of thought the whole bunch was crazy as loons.”
This scene creates one of the best changes among the characters in the novel. This is the first time that all the patients come together and stand up against the evil Nurse Ratched. Before this happened, they all requested to take a vote on weather or not their schedule should be change, so that they would be able to watch baseball and do their cleaning work at another time. This was a fair request, being that the facilities were cleaned every day and it wasn’t vital for the place to spotless. Also, baseball season only lasts for a short amount of time, therefore they could all go back to their normal routines once the season was over. When it came time to vote no one raised their hand because all the patients are terrified of Nurse Ratched, all except for McMurphy. He repeatedly expressed to the other patients that they need to stand up for themselves and not let Nurse Ratched control them. After the TV incident happened it gave them all further confidence and it brought them closer together as friends. The tone of this passage is a very humorous one and so is the rest of the novel, which is one of the main reasons it is greatly enjoyed.
"It was on the moral side, and in my own person, that i learned to recognize the thorough and primitive duality of man; I saw that, of the two natures that contended in the field of my consciousness, even if I could rightly be said to be either, it was only because I was radically both"
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde pg 61.
This passage was written in Dr. Jekyll's letter which was later read by Mr. Utterson after Jekyll's death. In his letter he explains that he himself is Mr. Hyde. The passage is written when he tries to explain the experiment which led to the transformation. The importance of this passage is that it helps explain the theme of the duality of man. It talks about how everyone has two mindsets: good and evil.it also helps explain the character of Dr. Jekyll more because it explained his death was a result of his fight with Mr. Hyde, his evil side, for possession of the body they both shared. The battle was lost by both sides as Dr. Jekyll died.
I really liked this passage because it's true. Everyone has two sides to them: the good side and the bad side. This passage says that these two sides are what makes a human being, human. There is always a battle of good and evil happening in our minds. A battle between our conscience and our impure thoughts. I liked this passage because it explains the universal theory of the "duality of man." It is one of the few things that all people have in common. Their ability to be either good or bad and the fact that they have a choice. An example of this is if someone needs money they can either a) get a job: the moral choice, or b) rob a bank:the immoral choice. Dr. Jekyll separated the two parts and as a result ended up killing himself. This is why it is so amazing that we can have these two completely different mindsets and yet still have them live in harmony.
“As if that blind rage had washed me clean, rid me of hope; for the first time, in that night alive with signs and stars, I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world. Finding it so much like myself—so like a brother, really—I felt that I had been happy and that I was happy again. For everything to be consummated, for me to feel less alone, I had only to wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate.” (pg: 123)
The Stranger, by Albert Camus
This quote is not only the most powerful quote in the novel; it’s also the only quote that truly establishes the theme of Camus’s work and the true nature of his character, Meursalt. Throughout the novel, Camus describes the life of the protagonist, Meursalt, who views himself has a rebel of modern society. The novel opens with the death of Meursalt’s mother; the tone he uses in the opening paragraph is of negligence because he doesn’t care about the death of his mother. This is the sort of personality Meursalt displays throughout the novel. The climax of the novel is when Meursalt shoots an Arab man for no reason and thus, he is convicted for it. After this scene, Meursalt is sentenced to death and send to prison, where he begins to realize that society is not rational and the world is indifferent of human existence. He is a man who is stoically unconcerned about anyone’s feelings or affections; he didn’t even care about the death of his own mother or the love of his girlfriend Maria. He believes that the world lacks rational order and purpose. He comes to this conclusion when he realizes that there is no avoiding death. He finds that it’s futile to have false hopes and chances of escape because he can’t avoid death. However, he discovers a new type of freedom in this; he believes that it is easier to live life without worrying about hopes and emotions, which are burdensome. This is ironic because at this point, whether he lives an easier or difficult life, doesn’t really matter due to the fact he is going to be put to death either way. This passage is influenced by the setting of the novel; his experiences in the prison led him to believe that there is no hope in survival and that he is doomed to death. He claims that “I had been happy and that I was happy again” because he no longer has to worry about emotions such as love, hope and regret in prison because he is about to die and these emotions will only waste the little time he has left. The isolation in prison brought him to the realization that he no longer has hope and that he should just live life with the little time he has, as free of emotions as he can. The prison also impacts his character in some ways because until he was send to prison he was careless about everyone’s feelings, including his own. He was confused about life and didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life. Also, he believed that he was like an outsider in society, a prisoner who didn’t fit in because he did not follow the ways of society. He was a rebel because he did not like the way society was functioning, and that is why he was known as an outsider or the “stranger”. However, towards the end of the book when he was in prison, he felt more happy and free than ever before because he didn’t have to worry about emotions. Yet it’s ironic how when he wasn’t in prison he felt like a prisoner and when he was in prison, he felt free. Also he began to feel less alone; he realized that the world he was in was unconcerned about the people in it; it still kept spinning and growing, just like him who didn’t care about anyone else. Therefore, he calls the world his “brother” because both are similar in their indifference of people, “I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world. Finding it so much like myself—so like a brother”. He also stated,” For everything to be consummated, for me to feel less alone, I had only to wish that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate.” This further supports the fact that he was indifferent about what people thought of him just like the world was indifferent about the creatures that lived on it. He wanted there to be spectators that greeted him with cries of hate so he wouldn’t be lonely. Overall, this passage defined the true nature of Meursalt’s character, illustrated the impact of the setting on the character and revealed the theme of indifference in this novel. The reason I choose this passage is because it intrigued me due to several reasons. One of the reasons was that it reminded me of Howard Roark from Any Rand’s novel, Fountainhead. Roark and Meursalt have so much in common regarding their selfish beliefs; neither characters are concerned about the feeling and affection of others and both do what they believe is right. Another aspect I liked about the passage is that Meursalt was forceful in his assertion at the end; he had claimed that he no longer worried about emotions, yet this passage is filled with his emotions. It revealed the true emotions that were inside of him that he had never before exposed. In the beginning of the passage he mentions that he got rid of all his “hope”, yet at the end he was “hoping” that there be a large crowd of spectators to greet him with cries of hate. He also claims that he was “happier” than he was ever before because he was free now, thus indicating his emotions at work. It revealed the human nature that was truly inside of him that he tried to deny all throughout the novel. An ordinary prisoner sentenced to death would hope or wish for survival somehow; but Meursalt, on the other hand, accepted this inevitable fate and proceeded on with pride and confidence as if he was going to live an happier life than he has lived all this time. The passage illustrates the true nature of Meursalt’s character and it also contains the overall theme that was present in this novel.
During the summer I read the play "Madea" by Michael Collier. Throughout the play I came across a passage that grasped my attention.
"Nothing will undo my resolve to kill my children and escape- but it must be quick. If I hesitate now someone else will murder them more cruelly. There's no way out. They must die. And I who gave them life will take it(76)." This passage reveals how nefarious Madea is. She is filled with rage because her husband Jason left her for another mistress. She is willing to go to the extremes to get revenge on him, as far as to kill her own children. Madea wishes to make him suffer for the grief he caused her.
The use of language was powerful " And I who gave them life will take it" I disagree with Madea killing her children just to acquire revenge. She has no right to decide when her children's lives come to an end. The children are not to blame for what Jason has done. They are innocent and should come first in her life. But Madea thinks otherwise "For even if you kill your sons, you once loved them dearly(76)." Madea does not care for her children and the thought of killing them can bother her less.
Reading this passage portrayed Madea as a woman who was rather bazaar. Questions such as if she was mentally insane came to mind. Perhaps she did not intentionally mean to kill her children and developed a disorder that lead her to commit such a crime.
"Everything belonged to him--but that was a trifle. The thing to know was what he belonged to, how many powers of darkness claimed him for their own. That was the reflection that made you creepy all over. It was impossible--not good for one either--trying to imagine. He had taken a high seat amongst the devils of the land--I mean literally. You can't understand--how could you?" - Part 2, Page 14
With this quote we see that Marlow, the main character; is commenting on Kurtz, the antagonist of the novella. This part is fairly important since it develops more of Kurtz's character and adds more detail. This one excerpt from the story is easily one of my favorites. One of the things I love about this passage is the way the author wrote it, the style in which this passage is written, truly convinces me that Kurtz is evil. The way it is written makes it seem as if the author himself is the one speaking and is dealing with this firsthand. Throughout the book, Kurtz is almost recognized as a god among the locals in the Congo, but with this, he is exposed for what he truly is. Foolishly blinded by greed and power, he threw himself up above all others. He was top rank among his peers at the Inner Station and was very powerful when it came to words. Among that talent, he had charisma and was able to lead groups of men with ease. With such skills, he was able to achieve a high status, but then he used his talent for his own evil deeds and needs. I believe that the Joseph Conrad captures the essence of Kurtz very well here. Does the passage remind me of a situation I have lived as well? Now, I have never been in such a situation like this, and I hope to never be. However, the passage does bring up a question: do people honestly get so lost within greed, that they forget what is right and what is wrong? It is nature when it comes to deciphering between the two.
I'd have to recommended this book, since i did enjoy it a bit. However, it was a pretty slow start and was a bit difficult to jump into.
Throughout the plays rich use of dialogue and overall flourishing tragic drama that Euripides embodies within his work Medea, I found that this quote most fully grasped my attention and most importantly provides the overall message of the the play. As the play mainly reflects upon the love-hate relationship of Medea and Jason, one notices how the play takes a cynical view on love through a more destructive way. It is important to remember that the root to all Medea's anger is love. After her husband abandoned her for the daughter of Creon, Medea's hatred for Jason becomes so fierce that it drives her out of control. Thus, her plot for revenge begins as she plans to murder Creon, his daughter, and her two sons. It becomes quite ironic, however, when one notices the tremendous amount of hate that Medea has for Jason, yet makes no attempt to kill him. This is merely because she wants him to suffer more than she has; thus the only way to fulfill her plan of revenge is by murdering his children.
Hence, the quote stated above ultimately describes Medea's rage throughout the events that occur within the play. Love and hate(two very important themes in the play) are demonstrated in this quote as it describes how hate triumphs over love. The chorus seems to be saying whether your filled with love or hate towards someone the wounds that occur as result are incurable. Both become two very powerful feelings that inevitably lead to tragedy. Thus, the tone of the quote immediately gives the reader a sense of hostility and hate that allows for a better understanding of how Medea is feeling. That is, Medea's hatred for Jason that leads to his demise in the end. This scene becomes an essential part to the play because it is where Medea becomes angered with Jason for leaving her for another woman.. Medea feels betrayed by Jason because she was left by a man she gave up everything for; such as her country and her father. Now she is expected to be exiled and has no place or person to turn to because she threw away everything she knew for her husband. Jason then discusses his future goals for his family and says that Medea should view his “royal wedding” as a plan to help her and her children prosper. However, Medea believes nothing Jason is saying is genuine and does not want to acquire wealth the way he aspires to. It is along these lines that Euripides incorporates the scholarly and wise words of the chorus. Not only do they express the terrible things that are going on, but they also deviate from the drama as they break up some of the tension that is built up between each scene. Nevertheless, while it is blatant that Medea is furious with Jason – she is also infuriated with the whole society. All in all, one can distinctly conclude that Medea was passionately driven by her desire to get revenge.
P.S - This book was by far the best play I have ever read. It is filled with tons of drama, tragedy, and death that keep you involved and awake throughout the entire play. Although it is an extremely short book it is straight to the point and interesting. I personally loved it and would recommend it to anyone :)
"She looked at the crowd and she felt, simultaneously, astonishment that they should stare at her, when this event was so personally her own that no communication about it was possible, and a sense of fitness that they should be here, that they should want to see it, because the sight of an achievement was the greatest gift a human being could offer to others." (222)
This section stood out to me because I felt that it was the heart and soul of the message that Rand tries to convey in Atlas Shrugged. Throughtout the 1000 page book, Rand is always tying in a message in some way. One theme that is always evident throughout the story is self-achievement. Each character that Rand creates, not only in this novel, but in her other novel, The Fountainhead, she always makes the characters self-righteous and greedy for specific things. Each of her characters are extremely independent and have extreme, distorted, and unique views on how to live their lives. Dagny Taggert dealt with the skepticism from societ of the John Galt line not being able to run, but they didnt phase her. She was certain of her abilities and she was confident that the line would run and therefore she went for it. She had determination and strength that most people will never have in a lifetime. Ayn Rand made all of her characters have a sort of almost unrealistic strength. Her characters were always self-righteous and self-centered. Each normal human emotion was turned into a philisosphical idea. Up until this point, Rand made it her business to make it unclear of what Dagny wanted out of the creation of the John Galt line. Did she want to power? The money? The fame? But at this point, it becomes clear that nothing and no one is more important than achievement. My personal reaction to the paragraph wasn't exactly positive. I felt that by saying that achievement was the greatest gift to offer was being sort of ignorant. Ayn Rand has very strong vivid view points on life but at some points I feel that she needs to learn a bit more. I feel that her viewpoints are very one-sided. She doesn't give a chance to to feel any other way about something...If that makes any sense. On the other hand, I was impressed by how she made me feel the passion that Dagny felt towards the John Galt line. She made me feel as though I had created it myself.
The book is long and very time consuming. But it'll change you as a reader.
“My misery is my own heart, which will not relent.” (Page 49)
Medea by Euripides
Although this quotation is fairly short, it may not seem significant to those who have not read this play, but this line holds more power than an entire descriptive paragraph. I read the play Medea by Euripides, and within its thin binding was a story so outrageous, I could not believe that it was put together in a mere 42 pages. And yes, I know that it was a short read, but it was so full of detail and drama, I couldn’t help but become enthralled by its temerity. This play was about a woman who abandoned by her husband, who ended up taking her rage out on him, his new family, and even her children. This quote sums up the play because it shows what was going on in Medea’s mind at the time. She was overwhelmed with grief and sadness and did not know how to cope. The only thing that seemed reasonable was revenge. This woman loved her husband and bore two sons for him, yet he still left her; so of course she was extremely hurt. Secondly, she was distressed because she knew in her heart that she did not want to hurt her ex-husband and her children, but at the time, she figured that murder was the only way to cure her pain. Medea struggled with these decisions, especially the one about killing her two sons, which I personally cannot blame her for. However, she went through with her original plans, killing her husband’s new lover, his lover’s father, and her two sons. Ironically, her husband Jason’s new lover happened to be the Princess of Corinth, her father then being the king. Medea murdered them all, except her ex-husband because she wanted him to suffer the way she did. The quote states that her pain and misery is her heart, her own fault, and it will not end. She wants the same pain forced upon Jason. I believe that this quote is extremely important to the play because it shows the reader that Medea is not this cold hearted woman, but a woman who is hurt by her husband’s infidelity. She had to contemplate one of the most drastic decisions ever created, and it really weighed on her heart. She would be crazy(er) if she was completely okay with all of this murder. This quote shows the deeper intellect of the human mind. Medea knows that the problem lies within herself. She could have been a good wife and stayed at home and tended to the kids, but no; she reacted in a way that made her look like a real human being, instead of an irrational crazy lady. All in all, I absolutely loved this play. It was so full of chaos and drama, it was nearly impossible to take a break from it. Although the story line seemed a little ridiculous, it was a great read. I recommend this book to absolutely everyone. No matter what kind of literature you enjoy, this play has it all.
My passage is a little on the long side, but I tried to shorten it and it was strange so I'll just type the whole thing.
"She gave him no chance to speak. 'I'm going away now'
'Cathy, what do you mean?'
'I told you before.'
'You didn't.'
'You didn't listen. It doesn't matter.'
' I don't believe you.'
Her voice was dead and metallic. 'I don't give a damn what you believe. I'm going.'
'The babies--'
'Throw them in one of your wells.'
He cried in panic, 'Cathy, your'e sick. You can't go--not from me-- not from me.'
'I can do anything to you. Any woman can do anything to you. You're a fool.'
The word got through his haze. Without warning, his hands reached for her shoulders and he thrust her backward. As she staggered he took the key from the inside of the door, slammed the door shut, and locked it.
He stood panting, his ear close to the panel, and a hysterical sickness poisoned him. He could hear her moving quietly about. A drawer was opened, and the thought leaped in him-- she's going to stay. And then there was a little click he could not place. His ear was almost touching the door.
Her voice came from so near that he jerked his head back. He heard richness in her voice. "Dear," she said softly "I didn't know you would take it so. I'm sorry, Adam."
His breath burst hoarsely out of his throat. His hand trembled trying to turn the key, and it fell on the floor after he had turned it. He pushed the door open. She stood three feet away. In her right hand she held his .44 Colt, and the black hole in the barrel pointed at him. He took a step toward her, saw that the hammer was back.
She shot him. The heavy slug struck him in the shoulder and flattened and tore out a piece of his shoulder blade...She tossed the pistol on the floor beside him and walked out of the house."
This passage certainly enforced what the reader already knew about Cathy, which was that she is a cold-hearted, manipulative soul who possesses, or lacks, some extra or inhuman trait, as Steinbeck mentions several times. In the beginning, Cathy was beaten up and left to die by a another man who she also manipulated . However, she used what little strength she had to crawl towards any form of help, which in this case happened to be two brothers living on a farm. They, particularly Adam (the gunshot victim), nursed her back to health for several long months. During these months. Cathy manipulated Adam into marrying her just so she would have money and stability in her life. After moving into a home of their own and bearing his children, she waited only a short amount of time before she decided she no longer needed Adam, who was, by this time, helplessly in love with her. When Adam made it difficult for her to leave, Cathy simply shot him without even thinking once about it, nor look back at Adam on her way out.
Prior to any of this, however, the reader gets a glimpse into Cathy's childhood. Here she is manipulative and evil as well, burning down her own house and making it look as thought she was in the fire. Everything about her plans is very precise and is almost always executed perfectly. She knows how to play on other's feelings and weaknesses in order to get what she wants very well.
What struck me most about this scene was how someone could be as evil and cold as Cathy was. Simply shooting someone like that, with no legitimate reason, seems like a feat only a crazy person or someone without a heart could do. Her words also added to her appalling behavior, such as when she told him to throw the children that she bore into a well. Losing a child seems like one of the most terrible things that can happen to a parent, and yet here she is, indifferent and detached from the fate of her children. Later in the book, she never even returns to see how they grow up.
I would recommend this book to only certain people. It is a long and rather descriptive story, which I know is not for some people. Personally, I liked it alot. It was not a difficult read but it was interesting and used descriptive language. The characters were extremely well developed. The reader was able to learn about every character in-depth beginning when they were a child, so the reader knew why characters did what they did or why they were the way they were, as opposed to when one reads a story and starts off when they're older. The reader even knew the background of their ancestors, who had little part in the book.
One of the books that I had read over the summer was Dracula by Bram Stoker. Even though, it was not as intriguing and exciting as I had expected it to be, it had deep meaning. It occurs to me that maybe the book isn’t simply famous for its horrific concept of such a monster as Count Dracula— which captures those daring to read about the absurd. Several beliefs such as ridding the world of the unacceptable (in this case Dracula and the rest of his vampire companions), and placing one’s feelings aside in order to protect society and one’s self from something that is malignant to them is displayed in this science-fiction novel. Furthermore, this book suggests that as man becomes too powerful (and most likely deceived by his pride that he is invincible), he turns into a monster and is perceived as a threat to society. Count Dracula’s power and authority is apparent throughout the novel. He is very wealthy, owning a mansion isolated by a mountain in Transylvania, and he controls the wolves that linger around town. Moreover, he has power over the people of Transylvania; they fear him and yet do not mention any of the strange events that take place in the presence of Dracula. They carry out his commands without questioning his authority, and Dracula locks the gates on the protagonist, Jonathan Harker when Jonathan discovers that Dracula is an evil-being. Jonathan seeks to escape from the grasp of Dracula. Dracula has a confined set of rules for Jonathan to abide by while he stays at the mansion, and as Jonathan starts to associate his feelings to that of a prisoner in the castle, he attempts to leave the place. Dracula derives his power from those that are ignorant to and refuse to believe that vampires exist. Therefore, Dracula has fewer opponents to face than if others were aware of his existence and his gruesome acts. Still, Dracula remains partially blinded by his pride since he boasts of the long lasting power that his family has managed to maintain over centuries conquering other civilizations. This reveals his flaw of lack of realization of other possible outcomes.
One of the main characters, Van Helsing states:
…many a man who set forth to do such a task as mine, found at the last his heart fail him, and then his nerve. So he delay, and delay, and delay, till the mere beauty and the fascination of the wanton Un-dead have hypnotise him…Then the beautiful eyes of the fair woman open and look love, and the voluptuous mouth present to a kiss—and man is weak. And there remain one more victim in the Vampire fold; one more to swell the grim and grisly ranks of the Un-dead!...” (406)
This quote describes the difficult assignment the characters must take on throughout Stoker’s novel, Dracula. The tone of the quote is one in which Van Helsing is reflecting on the heaviness of an obligation he has to his friends and the rest of society. The quote makes the reader reflect about his own responsibilities and choices. Jonathan Harker, Arthur Holmwood, Van Helsing, Quincey Morris, and Johnathan Seward form a group to work together against the antagonist Dracula. As the men discover that Dracula is a vampire and try to defeat him, Dracula uses their women against them to prevent them from overpowering him. He bites Lucy Westenra, the wife of Arthur eventually killing her and turning her into a vampire. This causes much grief to Arthur and the rest of Lucy’s friends knowing that they have lost the one they love. In addition, they will have to kill her “Un-dead” body to prevent her from attacking other people and increasing Dracula’s army of vampires. They know that they must go through with this, in order to save the rest of mankind. At the beginning Arthur finds this hard to fathom, and he refuses to allow the annihilation of the only memory he has left of his wife—her deceased body. Moreover, it is decided that Arthur must be the one to kill the vampire that has consumed Lucy’s body and taken her form. Eventually, Arthur agrees to the heavy duty placed upon him, hoping that it would restore Lucy’s holiness, and allow her to finally rest in peace. He realizes that he doesn’t want any more monsters such as Dracula roaming the earth and dedicates himself to doing whatever it takes to conquer Count Dracula. Arthur must now think of Lucy’s “undead” body as a device being used by Dracula’s evil force, in order to prevent his feelings from interfering with the demolishing of Lucy’s remains. Arthur and Van Helsing whom are working with the others to defeat Dracula drive a stake through Lucy’s heart, and they fill her mouth with garlic after cutting off her head. They watch Lucy’s corpse disintegrate before their eyes, and even though they are sad about it, they gain a sense of hope for Lucy, and the rest of the human race. One day, the men discover that Dracula has bitten and sucked the blood of Harker’s wife, Mina as well. As they come face to face with three female vampires, they notice how lovely they look and their attraction to the women attempts to distract them. Although this scene serves as an insight to what they will have to do to Mina, they annihilate the female vampires. Again, the men are reminded of Mina’s soon to be fate when they try to put garlic on her forehead to guard her from Dracula’s visits. Instead of protecting her, the garlic burns her and leaves a scar on her head. In discussion, the men determine that Jonathan her husband, will kill Mina when she starts to worsen in appearance and action. Primarily Jonathan declines their notion, but he reluctantly accepts it.
Similarly in life, one must make decisions that are complex and tend to draw in his emotions. Sometimes, one might fear doing something absolutely necessary that will greatly affect him, and in doing so he delays the mission. However, this piece suggests that if one allows something that he is emotionally attached to manifest, though it be not good for him, it can become overwhelming and end up being destructive. The quote proposes that one learn to overcome his fears for a worthy cause. In the mist of uncertainty, one should not be discouraged by change but instead, view it as an opportunity for growth and maturity and establishing one’s self as an individual.
-I would not recommend this book to anyone to read, but I would recommend that if one read any part of this book, it would be the citation that I have listed above. It is significant not only to the theme of the book, but to life’s circumstances as well.
“There is a tide in the affairs of men Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat, And we must take the current when it serves, Or lose our ventures.” (84)
This quote was said by the protagonist, Brutus, during the fourth act of William Shakespeare’s play, “Julius Caesar.” Brutus and Cassius (both conspirators against Caesar) are in war with Antony and Octavius because of Caesar’s death. Antony and Octavius are motivated to avenge Caesar and keep Rome in their possession. Brutus says this quote to explain why they must go after Antony’s army instead of waiting for his military to come to them. This passage helps explain the theme of Fate vs. Free Will. Brutus is explaining to Cassius that if they miss this opportunity to show bravery and strength they are only hurting themselves because chances like this only come every so often. It is about recognizing when there are chances and taking advantage of them. If the army was to miss out on this opportunity it may not occur again and they would lose everything they have worked for. The murder would have just been in vain because they not only lost their lives, but Rome would still be ruled by a Caesar (Octavius). Brutus’ army is at their pinnacle right now and Antony’s army is only getting stronger, eventually they will be much stronger than them. They must act now before they are at a disadvantage. This reveals Brutus’s real character. He is a very righteous man. In fact Antony calls him the “the noblest of all Romans.” He is the only conspirator motivated to murder Caesar for the good of Rome. He still believes he is fighting for the Romans’ best interest and therefore wants to go after Antony’s forces. He thinks that Caesar is only after ambition; as a result he supported the killing of Julius Caesar and anyone who is going to follow in his footsteps. This speech is not only inspiring, it is convincing as well. Cassius cannot help but agree with Brutus. Cassius originally deemed it a more advantageous tactic to play a defensive war; however, it is neither as courageous nor bold as a war battled aggressively. Cassius seems to really trust Brutus’ opinion because he changed his mind about certain decisions quite a few times because of Brutus. It shows that Brutus is not only a more dominant character, but also a very persuasive one. He knows how to talk to not only the general public, but also to individuals. He also shows a lot of passion when talking about this war because he wants to put Rome in his possession. He truly loves Rome and his zeal for this state is what drives him to act throughout the entire play.
I originally decided to read this book because of this quote. I heard it on the show One Tree Hill and I didn’t really understand it; as a result, I decided to read the play hoping to comprehend this particular quote better. When I first read this extract, I got excited because I had finally gotten to the part I’ve been dying to read. Although it is not climax of the play, it leads the characters in that direction because it pushes for the war to actually take place. It still did not make much sense to me till I read the passage over. I love the way that Shakespeare compares the choice to a flood because of the actual picture that comes to mind. The high tide represents rare opportunity and it is a good comparison because high tide does not come very often. It has a beautiful meaning about not only fate, but human choice as well. Most plays, like Oedipus Rex, discuss the theme of fate, but only to mention free will because it does not exist. Everything is planned out and trying to prevent certain events from happening only cause them to happen. This passage from Julius Caesar gives off a different message about fate; humans have choices to their destiny. We all have the ability to decide what we want to do and this quote reinforces that precise idea. It is about keeping our eyes open so we can find that chance. Opportunities are rare and if they are not discovered and not acted upon then the prospect at becoming or gaining something new is gone. It is a life lesson: chances do not come every so often, so when they do, take advantage of them. This quote makes me want to live life to the fullest; meaning try everything and take each opportunity given.
“…Live, Travel, Adventure, Bless, and don’t be sorry…” - Jack Kerouac, On the Road
The above quote truly encompasses the main ideals of Kerouac’s 1950’s classic. The story revolves around the lives of two writers, Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty, who decide to travel across the country in search of inspiration for their literature. It is believed by most that Kerouac based these two main characters on himself, and his travels and encounters across the country. These two men travel across America four times in just a little over three years, and at many points in time, they lose touch with who they are as people. It is in this era that the “Beat Generation” began. Most people are familiar with the LSD and marijuana experimentation throughout the 1960’s, as people quickly jumped on board the “counterculture” band wagon. This is seen as a groovy time period, and many contribute the use of marijuana and acid for giving us great music from Beatles, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix and The Who. However, most people don’t realize that the experimental, liberal ideals of the Counterculture movement actually stemmed directly from the Beat movement of the 50’s. To be “Beat” meant a trend towards non-conformity. People such as Kerouac believed that to conform to society extinguished the flames which make us creative and unique from one another. His method of expressing non-conformity was to be constantly in motion, and constantly isolated from the stationary, stable society. A rolling stone gathers no moss was an expression that struck deep in Kerouac’s heart. Connecting back to the allusion of ‘60’s music, the beat generation favored the free flowing, innovative sounds that were quickly becoming popular during this time period. The “Jazz Age” had resonated through time from the Roaring Twenties, right up to the early ‘50’s. At one point in the novel, Moriarty is explaining to Paradise the definition of “it” when referring to musicians. When a musician had “it” they understood their craft to the point where they had finally transcended logical understanding—to a place where man existed as an individual. Mainly, the characters of the novel find their own ways of transcending the mundane aspects of life; unfortunately, they resorted to drugs and binge drinking. Many people will ultimately love this book because you can’t help but appreciate the dramatic affect it had on society. Dr. Hunter Thompson, considered to be the father of "Gonzo" Journalism (a style of writing where the author will place himself in the situations he is writing about, to the point where he becomes the center of the plot) considers Kerouac his main source of inspiration. Thompson went on to write Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (yes, the movie starring heart throb, Johnny Depp). Both Thompson and Kerouac proved society was undergoing dramatic change because they were both able to write about drugs and alcohol so vividly-- and become famous for it. However, the author’s writing skills were very lax, and non-descriptive. Generally, Kerouac was more caught up in his message than conveying exactly what he felt during his travels. The only time the reader is allowed to feel as Sal does, is when he describes a week long party he exchanged less than 5 words to any one person. If the author has reached a point in his life where he no longer recognizes himself, how is the reader supposed to get in touch with whom the author is; or for that matter, what is the message he is trying to convey?
...and if the "fish" thing wasn't at the bottom of this blog site...I probably would've posted this about 30 minutes ago. It's not even a game and it was able to distract me for that long!! loll
Garcin: "Alone, none of us can save himself or herself; we're linked together inextricably."
-pg 38
This quotation may seem very simple and minute, however; the meaning behind it holds a lot of truth. This quote is not only quintessential to the play, but it is also a tremendously important concept that all human beings should remember.
To fully understand this quote, I will have to give a very brief summary of what occurred before this quote was stated. In the beginning of the novel, the reader is introduced to one of the three main characters, Garcin. Garcin finds himself in hell or to be more specific, Jean-Paul Sartre’s version of hell. Garcin does not once question his placement in hell and automatically realizes that he is in hell for a reason. However, Garcin wants to dwell on his shortcomings by himself and does not want to share them out loud. Later on in the play, the other two main characters are introduced, Inez and Estelle. Like Garcin, Inez fully understands the gravity of their situation and also acknowledges that she too deserves to be in hell. Estelle on the other hand, is very different from her cohorts; she is distracted by superficial things and she believes that her placement in hell was an accident. After some time, the three characters decide to reveal their iniquities to each other. In order to not ruin the book, I will not discuss their sins.
Shortly after confessing their sins, Garcin states, “Alone, none of us can save himself or herself; we're linked together inextricably.” Garcin acknowledges the fact that human beings have the power to set other people free from their pain, shortcomings, and inequities. After realizing this, Garcin spends the remainder of the play trying to win the favor of the remaining characters.
I know to some people, this small quotation may seem insignificant, but I truly believe that this quotation speaks volumes. I really love that through a few short simple words, Jean-Paul Sartre is able to explain something of such great magnitude. Through this quote, readers learn that we possess the power to set other people free of all their insecurities, flaws, and sins. Until a human being is convinced by other members of society that his actions are acceptable, he will not be able to possess a clear conscience. Most people do not realize how influential they are in some one’s life. Our thoughts and opinions about an individual can be in some cases the difference between life and death. For me, this quote was life altering. After reading this quotation, I have become really pensive of how I treat other people and I sincerely do not want to be the cause of any anguish in another individual’s life.
Overall, I really enjoyed the play. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone (by the way it is only about sixty pages long so that is definitely a bonus!). I genuinely believe that when this play is read carefully with an open mind, the reader can learn very important things about their own life.
Private BLITHE: Lieutenant. Sir, when I landed on D-Day, I found myself in a ditch all by myself. I fell asleep. I think it was those air sickness pills they give. When I woke up, I didn’t really try to find my unit. To fight. I just..I just kind of stayed put.
Lieutenant SPEIRS: What’s your name trooper?
Private BLITHE: I’m Blithe, Sir. Albert Blithe.
Lieutenant SPEIRS: You know why you hid in that ditch Blithe?
Private BLITHE: (whispers) I was scared…
Lieutenant SPEIRS: We’re all scared. You hid in that ditch because you think there’s still hope. But Blithe…the only hope you have is to accept the fact that you’re already dead. And the sooner you accept that, the sooner you’ll be able to function as a soldier is supposed to function. Without mercy. Without compassion. Without remorse. All war depends upon it.
-Chapter 6, Pg. 89
Of all the conversations, events, and anecdotes that Military Historian Stephen E. Ambrose describes in his work Band of Brothers, which documents the triumphs and travails of an experimental Parachute Infantry Regiment outfit known as Easy Company, the above-quoted dialogue is one of the most direct statements of the mentality of a paratrooper, and in that way contributes more than any other passage to the prevalent themes of the story: suffering as a means of building character and the hopelessness of warfare. Obviously, these are two themes that, at first glance, appear extremely grim and depressing. Upon more careful observation, however, one should realize that Lieutenant Speirs was not trying to depress or alienate Blithe; indeed no leader would ever wish to intentionally deflate their followers’ spirits; but rather, Speirs was simply trying to harden Blithe and expose him to the reality of war, thus transforming him into a better solider and more efficient “killing machine,” more likely to survive combat . Speirs simply uses the concept of hopelessness as a means of building character to do so. In the beginning of this dialogue, Blithe takes on an apologetic tone: he knows and regrets that he failed his fellow paratroopers on D-Day by falling asleep and avoiding his combat duties. He blames his cowardice on fear, claiming that being scared kept him from searching for his comrades and carrying out the invasion. Lieutenant Speirs, on the other hand, offers an alternative explanation: Speirs claims that it was hope, not fear, which kept Blithe static in his ditch. One may think, “Fear is a much more sensible explanation. After all, how can hope make one hesitate? Aren’t hope and hesitation opposites?” If this is going through your mind (as it was going through mine at first,) then think about it this way: When confronted by threatening circumstances, one hesitates, or avoids the threat, because they believe that avoiding the threat will allow them to live in comfort for another day. Facing a threatening circumstance guarantees discomfort in some shape or form, while avoiding that threat guarantees comfort, life, and stability. This explains why one would not leap off a cliff or provoke a gunman: avoiding these behaviors guarantees comfort and life, while engaging in them puts one at great risk for harm. Thus, possessing hope, and the ensuing belief that there are peaceful, stable, and pain-free alternatives to threatening circumstances, are both necessary corollaries to hesitation. Without hope, one can gain nothing from hesitation, for there is nothing beneficial gained by avoiding a threat. In short, without something to live for, without hope and the possibility of comforting alternative circumstances, threats are meaningless, and hesitation has no value. This is what Speirs meant when he said “You hid in that ditch because you think there is still hope."
Speirs expounds on the theme of hopelessness by stating that in order to function properly as a soldier, with the chutzpah and bravery required for war, every solider must realize that he is “already dead.” By this, Speirs meant that there is no hope in war, no better conditions to strive for, and no life to live outside of enemy lines. Thus, upon receiving a daunting mission, a soldier is reduced to two grim alternatives: to refuse the mission and die in abject solitude and isolation, or to carry out the mission and die proudly next to his comrades. This is the mentality on which soldiers on the front-line thrive; the psyche that compelled the men of E. Company to fight for their country; the reason that hopelessness is seen as a means of building character. All of this is captured by this one dialogue, making it, in my opinion, an essential passage indeed. In the second half of Band of Brothers, Speirs translates his “already dead” philosophy into action when he runs right across a field filled with German Infantry and tanks, dodging bullets as he goes, delivers a message to Item Company, and runs right back. To most men, it is seen as insane, while to Speirs, it is seen as the hallmark of a good soldier.
As one can tell, this passage is not written in skillful prose, nor does it possess any beautiful, descriptive language; the style is simple and curt, with no impressive use of syntax, vocabulary, or literary techniques. It's certainly no "Imaginary Iceberg." This is appropriate, however, since the passage is simply a dialogue between two ordinary citizen soldiers, and not the writing of some intellectual. Thus, I cannot say that the passage “jumped” at me as so “beautiful, descriptive, or graphic,” but I can say that the simplicity of the language, and the straightforwardness with which Speirs delivered his mini-speech, made the passage more alluring than beautiful or descriptive language ever could. The primary reason for this is that the simple style made it clear that the passage was written by laypeople and for laypeople, making the message extremely relatable and easy to understand. The rest of the story, on the other hand, is rife with military jargon and history. If one is not intimately familiar, for example, with the military chain of command or the difference between a mortar and howitzer and a .3cal and a .5cal, then the story can at times be difficult to understand. That is not the case with this passage. Anyone can understand this passage, and more importantly, anyone can relate to the themes of fear, hopelessness, and the desire to simply “fall asleep” and avoid responsibility. Therein lays the appeal of Lieutenant Speirs’ speech.
The strong emotional response it elicits, combined with the contributions it makes to the overarching themes of hopelessness and suffering, together made this dialogue an obvious choice for this “essential passage” assignment. My emotional reaction to the passage as a reader, however, was manifold, as several different emotions and thoughts passed through me at once. My first emotional responses were confusion and disagreement. Before reading Band of Brothers, I believed that soldiers must remain hopeful if they wish to do well in war. I envisioned the mentality of a solider as one of optimism, of hope that if all goes well, then everyone can return home to a life of tranquility. I thought that soldiers must be shrewd, and that they must always consider the family and fellow citizens they have to live for. “If you consider your family, you won’t do anything too risky and you will live to fight another day” was my belief, and that’s really how I thought wars were won. Speirs’ speech therefore contradicted my entire conception of war and of what it means to be a soldier. This confusion and disagreement, however, gradually gave way to awe and sympathy. With this passage, I gained a new respect and admiration for soldiers in our military, the ordinary citizens, like our parents and teachers, who were thrown into a war and forced to endure the very basest conditions of human existence. This passage gave me a new reverence for the leadership abilities of men like Lieutenant Ronald Speirs, who brought solace to men buckling under those conditions. I, in short, fell in love with everything the military represents, and it is because of Band of Brothers and speeches like Speirs’ that I have a stack of war books sitting on my desk waiting to be read.
