To His Coy Mistress- Tone

Shifting tones is the key to understanding and appreciating Shakespeare's My mistress' eyes. Most girls enjoy being complimented and compared to things that our world has deemed as beautiful. Well, Shakespeare throws a twist at the norm, and decides to describe everything that the woman he loves is not. Even better, he is saying that no part of her is comparable to any beautiful object. Well, this could easily be taken as insulting, but a shift in tone at line 13 marks that everything he previously mentioned is all for a greater purpose. "And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare as any she belied with false compare," (Shakespeare 885, Line 13-14). Everything he previously mentioned was all for a greater purpose. He is able to convey that their love is rare and amazing, and he adores her because of these "imperfections". He would not be being honest if he compared her to "coral", "snow", or "roses". He just loves her for what she is, which is perfectly herself- someone he is clearly crazy about.

Barbie Doll- Cause and Effect

A girl- perfectly healthy- is told that her body doesn't fit the image of society's perfect body; she slowly lets her bodily imperfections define who she is; she believes the only way to be happy with herself is to change. So she does. Sound familiar? Marge Peircy's poem Barbie Doll portrays a character who is described as "healthy, tested intelligent, possessed a strong arm and back..." (Piercy 835). However, healthy is not what society today advertises. Perfection is the goal. People were unable to look beyond the body of a girl to see a personality and a heart that yearned for love and acceptance. Because she let society's standards define her, she died. The title of Barbie Doll makes a statement. That image of a perfect person is not even living; a doll is inanimate. People are not; people have imperfections, they enjoy eating, some strive for intelligence, some strive for strength, and everyone is unique. To try and look like an inanimate object is ridiculous, and has negative outcomes, as we see by the innocent girl's death.

Lastly, the ending really struck me as ironic. Why is it that it is when she is dead that people see her as beautiful? Her death should not be a happy ending, and that is the satire of the entire poem.

A Jury of Her Peers- Theme of Sexism?

If sexism could be a theme for a short story, then Susan Glaspell's A Jury of Her Peers would definitely exemplify that. Gender roles play a huge part in the plot- and eventually the irony- of the story. The women are seen by the men as just silly girls who couldn't possibly know a thing about solving a crime. They are just brought along to be bystanders. They even make fun of the girls when they believe that their conversation about quilts was just trivial when really it was one of the clues that lead the women to solve the mystery. "'They wonder whether she was going to quilt it or just not it!"(Glaspell 417). However, they do not do much to prove the men wrong. The mostly keep to themselves and are quiet especially around the men- they know their place. However, they are more intelligent than the men give them credit for. Putting together clues and understanding some of the feelings that Mrs. Wright must have had, they come to figure out the motive of the murder- which was the whole point of the story. Even though they have outsmarted the men, they keep their secret to themselves- protecting their friend that they know was depressed and unhappy.

Hunters in the Snow- Surprising Plot Elements

In Tobias Wolff's short story, Hunters in the Snow, there is a big contrast between the characters at the beginning and end of the story. Beginning the story, there are three friends- Tub, Frank, and Kenny- who are going on a hunting trip. It is easily perceived by the readers that Tub is bullied by his friends. Many of their belittling comments hurt Tub, and he builds up anger inside because of it. When Kenny makes fun of tub and his failure of a diet, Frank goes along with it saying, "'Tub, you haven't seen your own balls in ten years'". Upset with the way he is being treated, Tub's anger only augments until he shoots Kenny. All jokes are off at this point, and this is where the plot change takes place. Tub goes from being bullied and submissive, to standing up for himself. Tub becomes the character who calls the shots- the one Frank follows around. And Kenny become the vulnerable one who has no voice of his own. The plot shift was not something I expected from this story, but it did make for an interesting plot and showed how the friendship was not as close as readers might have suspected at first.

Othello Part 2 Blog 4- The End

The resolutions for main characters Othello, Cassio, and Iago are all quite different as we reach the bitter end of Shakespeare's Othello, the Moor of Venice. There are many dead characters heading into the last remaining pages of the play. Desdemona was murdered by Othello out of jealousy, Roderigo wounded by Cassio and finished off by Iago, Cassio was injured by Iago, and Emilia killed by her husband after she said too much. While all of these murders were taking place, it is Emilia who realizes Iago's horrible wrongdoings and explains everything to Othello before Iago stabs her. Now, the resolutions for the characters left vary greatly. Othello, heartbroken after realizing he had killed his innocent wife, ended up committing suicide out of despair. Iago- with his true, lying nature revealed- is going to be kept a prisoner and tortured in whatever ways will keep him alive. Lastly, Cassio who was found to be framed for what had stripped him of being a lieutenant, was given the position as governor of Cyprus. Death is a tragedy, and tragedies must end in death. Although many of the significant characters were killed, the ending does end on somewhat of a positive note. Iago is found guilty of his deception and Cassio rewarded for his unwavering loyalty.

Othello Part 2 Blog 3- Deceit Once More

Iago from Shakespeare's Othello, the Moor of Venice has proved a most deceitful evil mastermind in this play. From the beginning with his using Roderigo and tricking both Othello and Cassio to doing what he wants, he has used deception to get his way. Now towards the end we see his duplicity once more. While Othello believes that Iago is set out to kill Cassio, Iago has really convinced Roderigo to do his dirty work. Iago is trying to save his reputation as an honest man, so he makes it look like Roderigo is guilty for the attack on Cassio. Then, during the dispute, Iago sees that Cassio might make it out unharmed. He takes matters into his own hands, and sneaking behind Cassio- cuts his leg. Cassio screams, "I am maimed for ever. Help, ho! Murder! Murder!"(Shakespeare V.ii.27). Cassio is severly wounded and Roderigo dead. And although it seems that Iago will again get away his trickery once again, Emilia will soon come to the rescue

Othello Part 2, Blog 2- Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing is one of the main literary techniques used in Shakespeare's Othello, The Moor of Venice. Many symbols, events, and lines can point readers in the right direction to predict the future of these characters. With the sighting of the handkerchief once again, we know trouble is on its way. Othello, now sure of Desdemona's affair, wants to kill her. Iago even suggests strangling her. Death is an absolute certainty in this tragedy. When Desdemona is crying to Emilia about her encounter with Othello, she does not understand why he believes that she has been unfaithful. Then her line, "If I do die before thee, prithee shroud me in one of those same sheets," (Shakespeare IV. iii. 23-24) foreshadows her imminent death. She tells Emilia that she loves Othello so much that if she dies, she wants to be buried in her wedding sheets. Not only does this clearly let the audience know that Desdemona will not make it out, but that Emilia will.

Othello Part 2 Blog 1- Minor Characters

In Shakespeare's Othello, The Moor of Venice, Bianca is a minor character with a significant role. As Cassio's mistress, she brings the symbolic handkerchief back into the picture. Angry at Cassio for giving him what she believes to be the handkerchief of another woman he slept with, she comes in storming as the perfect time. "This is some minx's token , and I must take out the work? There, give it to your hobbyhorse." (Shakespeare, IV.i.144-146). Ironically, although Cassio is not actually sleeping with anyone else, this line by Bianca is enough to make Othello believe so. This might just be the proof that Iago needed to make Othello sure of his wife's "infidelity". Another minor character, Emilia is significant in that she is Desdemona's advocate in the midst of all the lies. Telling Othello that Desdemona is the most faithful and loyal women and would never cheat. Unfortunately, Othello refuses to believe this, and so Emilia just continues to be Desdemona's support and friend. As the turning point is coming, we will soon see how all of the characters have played a part in the tragedy to come.

Othello Blog 4- Theming It

After finishing Act III of Shakespeare's Othello, the Moor of Venice, it is clear that there are some obvious themes that have been introduced and elaborated on. One of these is the idea of deception. Acts I and II set the tone for the play- characterizing Iago as a two-faced villain who wants to get rid of Othello and Cassio. Act III is where his plan really goes into motion. Deceiving Othello and Cassio, he comes across as the honest man to the characters in the play; however, the audience knows better. Because he knows the they both have faith and trust in him, he knows that with careful convincing, he will be able to convince Othello that his wife cheated on him with Cassio. Using his own form of deception and manipulation, he puts the idea of Desdemona being unfaithful in his head. He says that although he does not want to start any rumors that are not true, "Look to your wife. Observe he well with Cassio," (Act III. iii. 197). Then, he makes that idea grow until Othello is certain that their is an affair going on behind his back- that his wife has been deceiving him. He uses deception to make Othello sure that there is deception going on behind his back. With all of the lies, jealousy, and anger that are building up, I am anxious to see where the second part of the play will lead.

Othello Blog 3- Symbolism

Who knew that such a simple thing as a handkerchief could hold so much importance. In Act III of Shakespeare's Othello, the Moor of Venice, a handkerchief comes into the story for the first time. By the end of the act, it is a major symbol. Signifying many things, the handkerchief is thought by each character to mean something different. Iago sees the kerchief as a means of destroying both Cassio and Othello. "I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin." (III. iii. 322). To Othello, the kerchief represents his wife's possible infidelity and deception, but to Cassio, it is simply a lost object that almost got him in trouble with Bianca. Desdemona, for the time being, only sees it as one of the reasons that Othello has been acting up lately. With so many different meanings for so many different characters, the only thing that the audience can tell for certain is that it is portentous. When the handkerchief shows up again, bad things are bound to happen.

Othello Blog 2- Oh the Irony

Irony plays a big part in helping readers to understand our antagonist a little better. In Act II of Shakespeare's Othello, the Moor of Venice, we catch a few glimpses of how "honest Iago" is not as truthful as the other characters might believe. Iago even admits during one of his asides that "But I’ll set down the pegs that make this music, As honest as I am." (Shakespeare II. i. 185-186). Iago is able to deceive the characters because they all believe him to be one of the most honest and trustworthy people over all. He plans to take full advantage of each character's weaknesses, and does not hesitate to tell the audience about it. Therefore, we see dramatic irony in that the audience will know what is going on before the characters of the play do. Lastly, there is also irony in Emilia and Iago's relationship. What ought to be a marriage of love and trust, is not at all. Whether it is because he believes she cheated or not, we see Iago not being receptive to his wife Emilia. Ironic, though, is when he describes all of the different types of women and what makes them special and so forth- without much mention of the wife.

Othello Blog 1- Characterizing!

Love, hate, jealousy, and revenge are only a few of the topics springing up in Act II of William Shakespeare's Othello, the Moor of Venice. Iago is already developing as the story's antagonist. We see an example of this when Iago goes from telling Brabantio about his daughter's marriage to warning Othello of Brabantio's wrath that was building up. Then we see Othello- the up and coming protagonist. Honest, noble, and dutiful Othello keeps himself calm and collected even when he is being discriminated against and Brabantio continuously makes accusations against him. Othello knows that his love of his new wife is genuine and never tries to hide it. He says, "Let her speak of me before her father." (Shakespeare, I.ii.116). Trusting Desdemona, he is even willing to give up his life should he be wrong about her wishes and love for him. Other minor characters like Roderigo and the Duke while smaller roles, still do have great importance. Roderigo is simply a pawn in the game Iago is playing, and I am curious to see how that plays out. Also, the Duke is sure to be an important character as he is the one sticking his neck out for Othello- he knows that he is a good man and commander.