Similar to the Iliad, the characters in Othello possess certain traits characteristic of those in war. The reader is immediately aware of the investment which the men have in the war and the many ways in which their pride lies within their role in the war. Othello, being a successful general evokes jealousy in those around him. His successes within war have translated to successes in other areas such as his love life. His demeanor is that of someone who is prideful yet likable and able to lead and reach those around him. Iago's actions are, no doubt, driven by a jealousy he has for Othello's position and successes. While Iago himself has been successful in war as well, he lacks the recognition which those in war need to define their actions and themselves. Iago, having real experience, has an intense anger stemming from the fact that he has put in the work yet does not recieve the position he believes he deserves. When Cassio loses his position, he believes his entire reputation to be damaged beyond repair. The position and success which he most likely used to define himself is gone and therefore, he is desperate to fill that void.
Because of the setting of war, many emotions within people are amplified. Anger, happiness, relief, and excitement are placed on a scale of life and death. When the war ends and the Venetians are successful, their happiness has an intensity and a sense of relief characteristic of the war setting they are in. Under the stress of war, they are likely to become, as in Desdemona's place, willing to place large risks on maintaining any sense of happiness. Because she knows that Othello is to leave to go to war, she is willing to risk her own safety to have the companionship of the man that she knows is in danger. "So that, dear lords, if I be left behind, a moth of peace, and he go to the war, the rites for which I love him are bereft me, and I a heavy interim shall support by his dear absence. Let me go with him." Desdemona knows that her love for Othello, because he is to go to war, does not have any projected life span; therefore, she deems her own safety worth placing herself in danger.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Tell him Sista!
Lena, after reading Chapter 9 is, for obvious reasons, an intriguing character who I have numerous questions about. Prior to chapter 9 she's only occassionally mentioned in descriptions of the Dead family, usually being paired with Corinthians and the two being described as a pair. In chapter 9 her character as well as her strength is revealed to the reader.
What makes Lena intriguing is the fact that she is able to talk to Milkman the way that she does. By that point, Milkman had exerted his power as one of, if not the most, dominant member of the household. When Lena gets upset with him, she attacks the aspects of his life which Milkman prides himself on. She exposes his perpetual self-interest and his lack of empathy for anyone else in the household. Prior to this chapter, we see the situation that Corinthians has found herself in: as an adult she has a college education, works as a maid, and lives in fear of her father. Lena, growing up in the same conditions lives in a similar predicament. She is also an adult and has no credibility in her household, yet in this particular instance, she possesses the strength and will to tell Milkman everything which he chooses to ignore or is simply unable to see.
At this point in Song of Solomon almost every woman is in some way weakened or driven by the actions of the males. Corinthians lives in fear of the men in her household, Hagar has been driven to insanity by Milkman, and Ruth is left with questionable sanity herself as a result of pain inflicted by Macon Dead. Contrasted with all the women oppressed by the men in their lives, this particular chapter sparked my interest in Lena in general. Unfortunately the reader doesn't see much more of her but she still gets props for tellin Milkman like it is
What makes Lena intriguing is the fact that she is able to talk to Milkman the way that she does. By that point, Milkman had exerted his power as one of, if not the most, dominant member of the household. When Lena gets upset with him, she attacks the aspects of his life which Milkman prides himself on. She exposes his perpetual self-interest and his lack of empathy for anyone else in the household. Prior to this chapter, we see the situation that Corinthians has found herself in: as an adult she has a college education, works as a maid, and lives in fear of her father. Lena, growing up in the same conditions lives in a similar predicament. She is also an adult and has no credibility in her household, yet in this particular instance, she possesses the strength and will to tell Milkman everything which he chooses to ignore or is simply unable to see.
At this point in Song of Solomon almost every woman is in some way weakened or driven by the actions of the males. Corinthians lives in fear of the men in her household, Hagar has been driven to insanity by Milkman, and Ruth is left with questionable sanity herself as a result of pain inflicted by Macon Dead. Contrasted with all the women oppressed by the men in their lives, this particular chapter sparked my interest in Lena in general. Unfortunately the reader doesn't see much more of her but she still gets props for tellin Milkman like it is
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Actually Shaun Bussert, Love DOES Have Meaning...
Love has become an industry. Anyone can buy a beautiful sentiment for their significant other, whether it's genuine or not and as a result, everything related to love is kind of cliche. I believe that the only way to really describe one's personal meaning of love is to relate it to personal experiences and people. I won't pretend that I've ever been IN love or anything close to it but I certainly have much love for my family and my friends. In my short life I've come to know that love certainly isn't something that a person inherently possesses for another person. When each of my parents remarried, I ended up with an extra mom and dad, two more sisters, and another brother. While I could easily have decided that they were not blood family members, I was young enough that I let them in. Now with my family members, we've dropped the "step" in step-brother or or step-father and those boundaries have blurred. They are just as much my family as any blood member of my family.
While the closeness and love that I have with family and friends is something which makes each day better, it can also be a curse. People have the illusion that they have control which is comforting but really, things happen everyday that no one can control. Loving the people around you so much intensifies any kind of pain for someone or something that has happened. Not long ago, my father divorced my stepmother. The bonds I had formed years ago with my new, bigger family were instantly altered. I continued to love them and care and worry, but it was made more difficult by the fact that I was unable to see them. They still feel like family, but technically, we are no longer a family and I don't see them regularly as I once had.
Loving everyone around you can be painful as there will always be things out of your control. I've yet to lose anyone very close to me but when it inevitably happens, it will be worsened by the fact that I love them so much; however, undeniably, love is worth it
While the closeness and love that I have with family and friends is something which makes each day better, it can also be a curse. People have the illusion that they have control which is comforting but really, things happen everyday that no one can control. Loving the people around you so much intensifies any kind of pain for someone or something that has happened. Not long ago, my father divorced my stepmother. The bonds I had formed years ago with my new, bigger family were instantly altered. I continued to love them and care and worry, but it was made more difficult by the fact that I was unable to see them. They still feel like family, but technically, we are no longer a family and I don't see them regularly as I once had.
Loving everyone around you can be painful as there will always be things out of your control. I've yet to lose anyone very close to me but when it inevitably happens, it will be worsened by the fact that I love them so much; however, undeniably, love is worth it
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Ten things in no particular order
1. mace- I know I'm supposed to be at war but I don't want to kill anyone.
2. Journal- faced with death I think I'll need some kind of outlet
3. a Christopher Moore book- to lighten the mood
4. photos of family and friends
5. bobby pins- hair in your face on the front line is unacceptable
6. Mad Libs
7. down pillow
8. 2 ply really soft toilet paper
9. Burt's Bees chapstick
10. my ipod- I don't know how practical it would be but everything's better with a soundtrack
2. Journal- faced with death I think I'll need some kind of outlet
3. a Christopher Moore book- to lighten the mood
4. photos of family and friends
5. bobby pins- hair in your face on the front line is unacceptable
6. Mad Libs
7. down pillow
8. 2 ply really soft toilet paper
9. Burt's Bees chapstick
10. my ipod- I don't know how practical it would be but everything's better with a soundtrack
Faced with the decision as to whether live a long life doing nothing to make me insanely famous or to live a short life but be remembered for 2,000 years I have decided to live the long life. This decision is based on a combination of simply wanting to live a long life and what I personally believe to be a notable life of merit. I believe that what you have out of your life is your memories, relationships, and experiences. I think that directly impacting the people in your life is ultimately more meaningful than impacting the lives of people you never will have met. While it wouldn't ever be worth it to me to die young as some kind of war hero, I would believe it to be worth it if I somehow was able to die young, sacrificing myself for some infinite good (curing cancer, reversing the greenhouse effect, ridding the world of HIV). Really though, I think that a person's life can be extremely fulfilling by making small differences in the world around them. A person can make an impact without being remembered.
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