One of the chief thematic ideas portrayed in this chapter revolves around the persistent religious struggle that is taking place within the village. We are also introduced to a new character, Reverend James Smith, who goes on to replace Mr. Brown. Reverend Smith is described as being far more strict and rigid than Mr Brown, and insists that the tribe should abandon their tribal beliefs and make the conversion to Christianity. While there are many people that oppose Reverend Smith's complete disregard for their tribal past, there are some members that favor the new change. One member in particular, Enoch, has been swayed so severely that he threatens to unmask a member of the egwugwu. With Enoch's conversion being the final straw that broke the camels back, the tribal members furiously approach Reverend Smith and demand that the Church be done away with in order to restore the tribe back to their traditional religious roots. Reverend Smith stands his ground and stays true to his uncompromising ways. In response to Smith's harsh actions, the tribesmen burn the church even though they were deliberately told to leave it alone.
Are the tribesmens' actions justifiable? Was it a mistake to bring in Reverend Smith when Mr. Brown had already began to develop a good relationship with the tribe?
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Like Father, Unlike Son
"It was the fear of himself, lest he should be found to resemble his father."
Most children grow up idolizing their paternal figures, but in Things Fall Apart our protagonist Okonkwo resents his father to say the least. He associates him with weakness and femininity, and most of what Okonkwo has become is a result of the pure hatred of his father and his craving to be masculine. In his quest to masculinity, he often acts hastily and without thinking, which usually results in violence and bad temperment. While he thinks being burly and robust is the best way to live his life, it has severly affected his reputation among his family and tribe. Is his craving to be the alpha male worth straining his relationship with those around him? How is it that his father was less wealthy, less skilled, and less macho, yet was so much more comfortable with who he was? Okonkwo has become comsumed by how others perceive him, and it would not be surprising if this leads do his downfall.
Most children grow up idolizing their paternal figures, but in Things Fall Apart our protagonist Okonkwo resents his father to say the least. He associates him with weakness and femininity, and most of what Okonkwo has become is a result of the pure hatred of his father and his craving to be masculine. In his quest to masculinity, he often acts hastily and without thinking, which usually results in violence and bad temperment. While he thinks being burly and robust is the best way to live his life, it has severly affected his reputation among his family and tribe. Is his craving to be the alpha male worth straining his relationship with those around him? How is it that his father was less wealthy, less skilled, and less macho, yet was so much more comfortable with who he was? Okonkwo has become comsumed by how others perceive him, and it would not be surprising if this leads do his downfall.
Monday, October 5, 2009
One Day in the Life of Joe the Tortoise Farmer
It was a typical Monday morning and the sun was violently beating down on Joe's neck as he inspected the perimeter of his property for tunnels his tortoises were notorious for digging. As beads of sweat began to accumulate and trickle down his back, he reluctantly took a seat in the shade as he inspected the rest his farm. What is now a luscious field of healthy tortoises is a result of many years of hard work and dedication put in by both he and his family. They were very proud of their tortoise farm, and it made them genuinely happy.
After his morning routine he hopped in the shower and prepared to get dressed in order to get to school on time. By this time it was already 7:00 and he was cutting it very close as he had a strenuously long commute to school each morning. He glanced over his undistinguished wardrobe and selected his favorite shirt. In a hasty rush to pack his school materials in his backpack, he crammed everything in the large pocket hoping he hadn't left anything behind.
He sped down the busy road, getting lucky by not hitting many red lights. He pulled into the school parking lot at precisely 7:45 and jogged to make it to his first period class. Joe wasn't one for paying attention in class, as he often likes to doodle and daydream about his tortoises. He survived first block, which was often the most difficult for him.
The rest of the school day dragged on and on, and after what felt like an eternity the clock struck 3:00. While many kids are relieved and get to go home, Joe's day continues on without skipping a beat. Every day after school Joe plays competitive squash in an elite academy for about two or three hours each day. Most kids would find this tedious, but Joe has a legitimate love for the game of squash and hopes he will be able to get increasingly better and play at such a competitive level for a long time. Most people view squash as an easy game that takes no conditioning, but Joe could tell you better than anyone else that that is far from the truth.
His shirt completely drenched in sweat, Joe gets in his car and leaves the gym. When he gets home his parents kindly greet him and ask how his day was. Joe responds like a typical teenager with melancholy one word responses. Once in his room, by which time it is about 8:00, Joe sits down and does his homework. It is not uncommon for Joe to fall asleep right in his chair at his desk after a brutally long day of farming, school, and squash.
His alarm clock blares the next day as the sun rises, and Joe is ready to start his new day back on the farm. (483)
After his morning routine he hopped in the shower and prepared to get dressed in order to get to school on time. By this time it was already 7:00 and he was cutting it very close as he had a strenuously long commute to school each morning. He glanced over his undistinguished wardrobe and selected his favorite shirt. In a hasty rush to pack his school materials in his backpack, he crammed everything in the large pocket hoping he hadn't left anything behind.
He sped down the busy road, getting lucky by not hitting many red lights. He pulled into the school parking lot at precisely 7:45 and jogged to make it to his first period class. Joe wasn't one for paying attention in class, as he often likes to doodle and daydream about his tortoises. He survived first block, which was often the most difficult for him.
The rest of the school day dragged on and on, and after what felt like an eternity the clock struck 3:00. While many kids are relieved and get to go home, Joe's day continues on without skipping a beat. Every day after school Joe plays competitive squash in an elite academy for about two or three hours each day. Most kids would find this tedious, but Joe has a legitimate love for the game of squash and hopes he will be able to get increasingly better and play at such a competitive level for a long time. Most people view squash as an easy game that takes no conditioning, but Joe could tell you better than anyone else that that is far from the truth.
His shirt completely drenched in sweat, Joe gets in his car and leaves the gym. When he gets home his parents kindly greet him and ask how his day was. Joe responds like a typical teenager with melancholy one word responses. Once in his room, by which time it is about 8:00, Joe sits down and does his homework. It is not uncommon for Joe to fall asleep right in his chair at his desk after a brutally long day of farming, school, and squash.
His alarm clock blares the next day as the sun rises, and Joe is ready to start his new day back on the farm. (483)
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Why Buin the Suit that has Pwotected You?
No matter where you went to elementary school, odds are you learned the same lesson that would stick with you the rest of your life. The idea that each individual is different and you must always be yourself. It is during this critical junction in our lives in which we first discover who we really are, and what we’re going to be like as we make our journey towards adulthood. There are many aspects of our lives that we may try to change as we mature, but no matter what everyone will always have a “fwame wesistant” part of your personality, it just may be smaller or larger in many cases.
As the most complex being on earth, it is almost human nature to crave to be perfect. Whether it be trying to get into an Ivy League College, playing a Division I sport, or just winning the school’s QuizBowl. It is in this pursuit of perfection that we often encounter parts of our lives that were essential in our development as an individual, but may not be desirable as life goes on. It is this “fwame wesistant” suit that serves as a constant reminder of what we truly are on the inside
From a personal standpoint, I’m perfectly fine with, and might even prefer, my suit being completely “fwame resistant”. Before you go and think I don’t want to change or improve myself as an individual, because I do, I just want to do it with the principals and morals I truly believe in. While there are probably be things here and there I might want to change, for the most part I’m proud of who I am and the journey it took to get here. I don’t want to have to change anything about myself to become any more “socially acceptable” than I already am. If a friendship or a relationship with a peer or role model is based on parts of your personality that you may have fabricated or don’t fully support, you’re not getting the most out of it, and the friendship you make might be as fake as the characteristics you tried to construct. If people don’t accept me for who I truly am, I probably don’t even want to get close to them anyways.
If I WERE to make any alterations to my Spiderman suit, I’d add some clever designs to it rather than try to burn it. Burning it seems to me like you're desperately trying to destroy or completely do away with a part of your true colors that shaped you as you journeyed through adolescence. What if you work so hard to burn a trait that took so long to develop, and later on in life you change your mind? All you’ll be left with is ashes and a vital part of what makes you different will be scattered all over the floor. Rather than burning your suit, you should try to add on certain qualities on top of your fundamental principals. This way you have a solid base that you have a close personal attachment to, and it allows you to make small adjustments and slowly branch out according to your personality. Growth as an individual is the most ideal ambition, not subtraction. (543)
As the most complex being on earth, it is almost human nature to crave to be perfect. Whether it be trying to get into an Ivy League College, playing a Division I sport, or just winning the school’s QuizBowl. It is in this pursuit of perfection that we often encounter parts of our lives that were essential in our development as an individual, but may not be desirable as life goes on. It is this “fwame wesistant” suit that serves as a constant reminder of what we truly are on the inside
From a personal standpoint, I’m perfectly fine with, and might even prefer, my suit being completely “fwame resistant”. Before you go and think I don’t want to change or improve myself as an individual, because I do, I just want to do it with the principals and morals I truly believe in. While there are probably be things here and there I might want to change, for the most part I’m proud of who I am and the journey it took to get here. I don’t want to have to change anything about myself to become any more “socially acceptable” than I already am. If a friendship or a relationship with a peer or role model is based on parts of your personality that you may have fabricated or don’t fully support, you’re not getting the most out of it, and the friendship you make might be as fake as the characteristics you tried to construct. If people don’t accept me for who I truly am, I probably don’t even want to get close to them anyways.
If I WERE to make any alterations to my Spiderman suit, I’d add some clever designs to it rather than try to burn it. Burning it seems to me like you're desperately trying to destroy or completely do away with a part of your true colors that shaped you as you journeyed through adolescence. What if you work so hard to burn a trait that took so long to develop, and later on in life you change your mind? All you’ll be left with is ashes and a vital part of what makes you different will be scattered all over the floor. Rather than burning your suit, you should try to add on certain qualities on top of your fundamental principals. This way you have a solid base that you have a close personal attachment to, and it allows you to make small adjustments and slowly branch out according to your personality. Growth as an individual is the most ideal ambition, not subtraction. (543)
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
The Traits of a Tragedy
In being one of the most successfully written tragedies, Antigone embodies many essential traits that set the precedent for other plays of the same genre. Based on the Oedipus Myth in the Royal House of Thebes, Antigone presents its audience with two very different types of Greek tragic Heroes. Creon serves as a variation of a traditional tragic hero while Antigone serves as the model of a Sophoclean tragic hero(ine).
Upon discussing the fundamental elements of what makes a piece of work a tragedy, we were presented many different characteristics Sophocles used to devise his plays. One approach he always takes is that he cleverly creates a character that possesses a fundamentally virtuous quality that leads to his/her downfall. In Antigone, this is overtly apparent throughout the entire plot revolving around the burial of Antigone’s brother, Polyneices. Antigone is strong willed to say the least, and it is this courageous devotion towards what she believes in that leads to her imminent demise. While she does succeed in stirring the pot with Creon and the law, it ends up costing her her life, as well as her fiancé’s.
This “tragic flaw” is what makes the play worth reading and discussing. Had Antigone not pushed so hard for the ceremony for her brother, we wouldn’t have had any plot twists or a reason to continue reading. It also allows the audience to personally engage in another critical aspect of Sophocles’s writings. As we view Antigone’s inner character, we, as an audience, feel the sensation known as catharsis. It is not uncommon for the audience to pity the main character in a tragedy, and Sophocles succeeds in creating a feeling of sympathy towards Antigone.
Even though the play is titled Antigone, that certainly doesn’t mean she’s the most prevalent character, or, for that matter, the only tragic hero. Creon serves as a perfect example of the notion that a tragedy is a story of a person’s fall from greatness. While he does not want to disrespect the Gods, he is taken over by his own ego and dictates that his laws are to be followed no matter if they are right or wrong. It is this mindset that essentially leads to what becomes his downfall. This only occurs to him after the blood of Antigone and his own son, Haemon, is placed on his hands (Figuratively). This also solidifies his role as a tragic hero because he recognized his own responsibilities for his behavior and accepted his fate with dignity.
All in all, it is easy to categorize Antigone as one of the most successful tragedies written to date. (436)
Upon discussing the fundamental elements of what makes a piece of work a tragedy, we were presented many different characteristics Sophocles used to devise his plays. One approach he always takes is that he cleverly creates a character that possesses a fundamentally virtuous quality that leads to his/her downfall. In Antigone, this is overtly apparent throughout the entire plot revolving around the burial of Antigone’s brother, Polyneices. Antigone is strong willed to say the least, and it is this courageous devotion towards what she believes in that leads to her imminent demise. While she does succeed in stirring the pot with Creon and the law, it ends up costing her her life, as well as her fiancé’s.
This “tragic flaw” is what makes the play worth reading and discussing. Had Antigone not pushed so hard for the ceremony for her brother, we wouldn’t have had any plot twists or a reason to continue reading. It also allows the audience to personally engage in another critical aspect of Sophocles’s writings. As we view Antigone’s inner character, we, as an audience, feel the sensation known as catharsis. It is not uncommon for the audience to pity the main character in a tragedy, and Sophocles succeeds in creating a feeling of sympathy towards Antigone.
Even though the play is titled Antigone, that certainly doesn’t mean she’s the most prevalent character, or, for that matter, the only tragic hero. Creon serves as a perfect example of the notion that a tragedy is a story of a person’s fall from greatness. While he does not want to disrespect the Gods, he is taken over by his own ego and dictates that his laws are to be followed no matter if they are right or wrong. It is this mindset that essentially leads to what becomes his downfall. This only occurs to him after the blood of Antigone and his own son, Haemon, is placed on his hands (Figuratively). This also solidifies his role as a tragic hero because he recognized his own responsibilities for his behavior and accepted his fate with dignity.
All in all, it is easy to categorize Antigone as one of the most successful tragedies written to date. (436)
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Making a Lasting Impression
1. Holes by Louis Sachar. I read this in 4th grade, and it was the first real book I willingly read completely on my own.
2. Lord of the Flies by William Golding. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I gave a presentation about it to my 8th grade English class.
3. Coach Carter by Jasmine Jones. I'm a huge basketball fan, and reading this book was really enjoyable. I read it before the movie came out and when I ended up seeing it I remembered how much I liked the book
4. Eragon by Christopher Paolini. A good friend of mine recommended this to me on a summer vacation, and I finished it in about 3 days.
5. Pet Sematary by Stephen King. I read this book on a boat in the summer of my freshman year and I got goosebumps while reading it. This book introduced me to a whole new genre of books, and I now love reading scary stories.
6. Enders Game by Orson Scott Card. I love to play and create videogames, so this book was very fun for me to read.
7. Life of Pi by Yann Martel. I read this story as my required reading this summer and I absolutely fell in love with it. I would look forward to reading it most days, and it was very difficult to put down
8. The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown. I love mystery/action filled books and Dan Brown is one of my all time favorite authors.
9. Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. This is by far my favorite book by one of my favorite authors. It was intense and always kept me interested, and was very fun to read.
10. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque. When I initially began reading this book I thought it would just be a pointless story about war but it ended up being my favorite war story of all time. It was in great detail and it was fun to discuss in class.
11. A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. I read every book in the series, and I loved that the good guy didn't always win. It was refreshing not being able to predict the ending, and each book was fascinating to read.
12. Hatchet by Gary Paulson. I am deeply interested in survival skills, and this was the book that first got me really interested in the wild and survival.
2. Lord of the Flies by William Golding. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I gave a presentation about it to my 8th grade English class.
3. Coach Carter by Jasmine Jones. I'm a huge basketball fan, and reading this book was really enjoyable. I read it before the movie came out and when I ended up seeing it I remembered how much I liked the book
4. Eragon by Christopher Paolini. A good friend of mine recommended this to me on a summer vacation, and I finished it in about 3 days.
5. Pet Sematary by Stephen King. I read this book on a boat in the summer of my freshman year and I got goosebumps while reading it. This book introduced me to a whole new genre of books, and I now love reading scary stories.
6. Enders Game by Orson Scott Card. I love to play and create videogames, so this book was very fun for me to read.
7. Life of Pi by Yann Martel. I read this story as my required reading this summer and I absolutely fell in love with it. I would look forward to reading it most days, and it was very difficult to put down
8. The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown. I love mystery/action filled books and Dan Brown is one of my all time favorite authors.
9. Angels and Demons by Dan Brown. This is by far my favorite book by one of my favorite authors. It was intense and always kept me interested, and was very fun to read.
10. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque. When I initially began reading this book I thought it would just be a pointless story about war but it ended up being my favorite war story of all time. It was in great detail and it was fun to discuss in class.
11. A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. I read every book in the series, and I loved that the good guy didn't always win. It was refreshing not being able to predict the ending, and each book was fascinating to read.
12. Hatchet by Gary Paulson. I am deeply interested in survival skills, and this was the book that first got me really interested in the wild and survival.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Animal Instincts and the Vicious Food Chain
Life of Pi begins in an unusual manner in an Author’s Note that explains his relentless craving for inspiration and the travels he took in search of finding new ideas to write about. It is in these travels that he meets a man named Francis Adirubasamy who offers to tell him a story that will, “…make you believe in God.” After some skepticism the author decides to listen to the story and it is explained that the story itself will not be told through the eyes of the author or Francis, but through those of Pi Patel.
Pi’s life growing up is very different than other teenagers. He, like our author, has a tremendous craving for knowledge and educational opportunities that is satisfied by his mother’s large collection of literature and his extensive school curriculum and connection with his teachers. His family runs a zoo so he is provided with a staggering amount of intelligence and appreciation for all types of animals, most notably the Bengal tiger.
One of the most crucial themes depicted throughout the novel is the reality and brutality of the food chain and what life is like outside the comforts of your town, village, or even cage at the zoo. We are constantly presented instances in which true animal instinct takes over, and how creatures are willing to do just about anything to survive. We are first presented with this idea on the zoo when Pi’s father releases a live goat into the domain of a hungry Bengal tiger. The true danger of what wild animals are willing to do to survive is clearly observable in great detail. While this is the first instance in which we view the reality of the real world, the most powerful occurrence of this theme is after Pi’s family’s ship of zoo animals has sunk and Pi finds himself on a boat with a zebra, a hyena, an orangutan, and a tiger. As hunger lingers the true survival instinct of the animals takes over and the food chain begins to transpire. The hyena consumed both the wounded zebra and the orangutan. Shortly after, Richard Parker, the name given to the Bengal tiger, eats the hyena. Pi quickly realizes that because it is only he and the king of the food chain left on the boat he must establish himself as the dominant beast in order to survive. Pi must act carefully and intelligently as he needs to establish dominance without doing anything so rash that the tiger just decides to maul him there and then. It is appropriate to call the relationship that transpired a master-animal bond. This almost friendship helped them work together to survive on a boat in the middle of the ocean, catch fish, and ends up saving Pi’s life from a potential attack form another stranded human.
There is no doubt that the bond formed between Pi and Richard Parker saved both their lives as they found a way to live and operate together as opposed to selfishly overcoming their own personal setbacks. Animal instincts are a huge part of both people and beasts, and while it is necessary a lot of the time, the ability to control the intensity and irrationality of it, in the case of Pi and Richard Parker, can end up being a life saver for you and others. (555)
Pi’s life growing up is very different than other teenagers. He, like our author, has a tremendous craving for knowledge and educational opportunities that is satisfied by his mother’s large collection of literature and his extensive school curriculum and connection with his teachers. His family runs a zoo so he is provided with a staggering amount of intelligence and appreciation for all types of animals, most notably the Bengal tiger.
One of the most crucial themes depicted throughout the novel is the reality and brutality of the food chain and what life is like outside the comforts of your town, village, or even cage at the zoo. We are constantly presented instances in which true animal instinct takes over, and how creatures are willing to do just about anything to survive. We are first presented with this idea on the zoo when Pi’s father releases a live goat into the domain of a hungry Bengal tiger. The true danger of what wild animals are willing to do to survive is clearly observable in great detail. While this is the first instance in which we view the reality of the real world, the most powerful occurrence of this theme is after Pi’s family’s ship of zoo animals has sunk and Pi finds himself on a boat with a zebra, a hyena, an orangutan, and a tiger. As hunger lingers the true survival instinct of the animals takes over and the food chain begins to transpire. The hyena consumed both the wounded zebra and the orangutan. Shortly after, Richard Parker, the name given to the Bengal tiger, eats the hyena. Pi quickly realizes that because it is only he and the king of the food chain left on the boat he must establish himself as the dominant beast in order to survive. Pi must act carefully and intelligently as he needs to establish dominance without doing anything so rash that the tiger just decides to maul him there and then. It is appropriate to call the relationship that transpired a master-animal bond. This almost friendship helped them work together to survive on a boat in the middle of the ocean, catch fish, and ends up saving Pi’s life from a potential attack form another stranded human.
There is no doubt that the bond formed between Pi and Richard Parker saved both their lives as they found a way to live and operate together as opposed to selfishly overcoming their own personal setbacks. Animal instincts are a huge part of both people and beasts, and while it is necessary a lot of the time, the ability to control the intensity and irrationality of it, in the case of Pi and Richard Parker, can end up being a life saver for you and others. (555)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
