MODEST PROPOSAL

9-25-13                                             Modest Proposal

Summary: He found an idea to stop starvation and poverty in Ireland, by selling their children to eat and make good out of! This is 100% sarcastic, and funny.

Quote:people in ireland are beggars.

Significance of quote:this was true at the time so what he wrote wasnt completely a joke, he must have wanted change for Ireland and it s peoples.

Reflection: He must have had some knowledge of Ireland's problems to write this proposal, along with a good sense of humor. Mr. Swift had a great sense of humor, and loved to make fun of where he lived in subtle ways (like in Gullivers Travels). I think that he wrote these to loosen up the people he lived with at this time, for they were all worried and panicked all the time; Swift's books and stories worked to free them of their worries.

Question: Did he actually feel this way about Ireland's problems (that they're only solution was cannibalism)?

RAPE OF THE LOCK

9-24-13                                                        Rape of the Lock
Summary: Belinda (the nymph) goes to a party in which some creepy guy also attends, and he is obssessed with three locks of Belinda's hair. The guy manages to clip two of those three locks, then Belinda gets mad at him and goes on a rampage to find them.
Quote: "First, rob'd in White, the Nymph intent adores
With Head uncover'd, the cosmetic Pow'rs.
A heav'nly Image in the Glass appears,
To that she bends, to that her Eyes she rears"
Significance of Quote: The pope seems to think of women as beautiful creatures, as it is reflected in this quote. As a pope I am actually surprized about how he wrote this, because I thought that the pope was unfair and didnt think highly of women during this time. This reading was quite the revelation.
Reflection: This was such a weird epic, I can see why they call it a mock epic. It seems like the first real comedy poem, for if I could completely understand whats written then it would be much funnier for me. Also, the way the Pope talks of Belinda "with beauty", however I feel like through all the reading I have read from those years, it seems as though thats all a women was for them. They werent credited for being witty or smart, only for being pretty.
Question: Were women in those times only depicted with attractiveness?

PARADISE LOST

9-23                                 Lost Paradise                                

Summary: in this exserpt they say how the beautiful Eve is much like Satan, how she is a bad person and a liar, like all women. But really this is Satan deceiving Adam.

Quote: “What hither brought us, hate, not love, nor hope [ 475 ]

Of Paradise for Hell, hope here to taste

Of pleasure, but all pleasure to destroy,

Save what is in destroying, other joy

To me is lost.”

Significance of Quote: calling Eve no goddess of love, but rather a hater, sent from hell. but really this is Satan making things up to plot seeds in Adams head.

Reflection: In reality, I had so much trouble reading this piece of literature. It was very complex.  However, I can tell why this poem was such a renovation to the neological age. Due to the complex wording and beautifully structured writing, along with the consept of Satan as a major role aside from God (which i assume didnt happen much in those times). John Milton, in my opinion, seems like a misogyst; because of the way he describes Eve and all women in general, even if it is said though Satans character.

Question: Did John Milton write any other   pieces ?

Much Ado a V sc 3

9-16-13                       Much Ado About Nothing                    Act V scene 3

Summary: Claudio and the men join for Hero’s funeral.

Quote: “Now, unto thy bones good night! Yearly will I do this rite” -Claudio

Significance of Quote: Claudio, who was deceived by Don John, was the reason Hero had died. This quote shows how much Claudio really loved Hero and how much catching Don John was important, for if they hadn't found out about his plan, Claudio would never love Hero even after her death. Its a great dramatic ending for the play.

Reflection: After all the misunderstandings with Hero being a whore and all, Claudio ended up loving her just the same, even after she died. His love for her never really changed when he thought she was a whore, for he was simply hurt by her “lies”. If only she were still alive to see how he still loves her.

Question: How do you think this play would change if Hero and Claudio simply talked out the misunderstanding in the first place?

Much Ado A IV sc 1-2

9-12-13                        Much Ado About Nothing                   A IV scene 1-2

Summary: In the first scene, the wedding is in place but Claudio is refusing to marry Hero cause he was set to believe she is a whore. The men find that this is probably a trap set by John the bastard brother, because he lives for conflict- They then devise a plan to find out if in fact it was his doing. Beatrice and Benedick admit they love each other but then she tells him to kill Claudio. The next scene, Dogberry catches Boranchio and Conrade as they were caught talking of Don Johns plans.

Quote: “Not to be married, Not to knit my soul to an approvèd wanton”- Claudio

Significance: This line made a huge change in the scene, for after he said that everybody thought hero was a whore. Which then caused the men to realize that it may be Don Johns doing, and also it gave Beatrice a new enemy.

Reflection: This seems like the climax of the play. The wedding going horribly wrong: Beatrice and Benedick admitting they love one another, the realization of Don John and his plan, and Dogberry catching Don John’s helpers. The characters in these scenes do tend to change their minds a lot, and make harsh decisions (much like Romeo and Juliet). It must have been one of Shakespeare’s marks, having such vain and impulsive characters. Being impulsive has lost Claudio a fiancee, but gained Benedick the heart of Beatrice.

Question: Was is common that people back in Shakespeare's time to make impulsive decisions? Or was it just Shakespeare’s way of writing?

sorry if my reflection makes no sense.

Much Ado Act III s 4-5

9-10-13                                Much Ado About Nothing                       Act III scenes 4-5

Summary: In scene 4, the girls are helping Hero get ready for her wedding as they all talk about random things that really have no meaning. Scene 5 is very confusing, Dogberry and Verges ramble on about silly things, but then end up giving Leonato news.

Quote: “We will spare for no wit, I warrant you. Here’s that shall drive some of them to a noncome. Only get the learned writer to set down our excommunication and meet me at

the jail.”

Significance: Dogberry is planning something. However I really cannot tell what this quote really means, I know this is an important quote. It does resemble Iago from Othello in a way, cause he is going to change somebodys words. But Iago never rambled on like Dogberry. Dogberry is a less-witty version of Iago.

Reflection: Everything seems very chaotic: the ladies gettign ready for the wedding, and a very confusing scene thanks to Dogberry and Verges. I think, since this is far into the play, that Shakespeare is trying to get the groundlings excited for the climax of the show! On a side note, Beatrice catching a cold right before the wedding may be to add onto how she is kinda stuck up about getting married, and how she never wants anything to do with Benedick.  

Question: What i sthe purpose of Dogberry? To entertain, confuse, or no reason at all?

Much ado AIII scene 1-2

9-9-13                                          Much Ado About Nothing              Act 3 scene 1-2

Summary: In scene 1, the plan to get Beatrice and Benedick together still moves forward. Hero and Ursula try to get them together by multiplication and pure wit. However, they hurt Beatrices feelings in the process. In scene 2, Benedick is starting to admit that he may be falling in love, and his friends try to figure out with who. Don John tells Claudio a lie to sabotage the wedding.

Quote: “I have the toothache.”- Benedick

Significance of quote: “the toothache” is a metaphor meaning one is in love. This is an important quote because he never said who he is in love with, leaving all his friends wondering, yet the audience knows its Beatrice. It is just great that the plan to get those two together is working.

Reflection: Even though this idea to get Beatrice and Benedick together is very kind and smart, but it has its drawbacks. Like Beatrice is now doubting herself because of what she “overheard”  Hero and Ursula saying about her. Maybe she will change because of what she heard, and Benedick will dislike the new Beatrice. Lets hope it will not come down to this. Don John is jjust such a bad guy, why would he try and break up Claudio and Hero?

Question: Did Shakespeare get influeced to create Don John because of somebody he knows?

Much Ado A II scenes 1-2

9-5-13                                       Much Ado About Nothing                                 Act II S1-2

Summary: The first scene a lot is happening: Don Pedro asks for Hero’s hand in marriage, but then gives her up to Claudio, who really loves her (Don Pedro is such a good friend). There is a masquerade party which everybody attends, and Beatrice tells Benedick how much she doesn't like him straight to his covered face. Towards the end, Don Pedro, Leonato, Hero, and Claudio decide to try and find a suitor for Beatrice. In the second scene, Don John and his partner in crime, Borachio, plan to sabotage the wedding of Claudio and Hero.

Quote: “Not till God make men of some other metal than earth.Would it not grieve a woman to be overmastered with a piece of valiant dust? To make an account of her life to a clod of wayward marl? No, uncle, I’ll none. Adam’s sons are my brethren, and truly I hold it a sin to match in my kindred.”

Significance of Quote: This is Beatrice talking about how men aren’t as good as they seem, and basically talking them down, and saying mean things about all men. This is a very bold thing to do for a woman in this time. Shakespeare seems to always create a strong feminist role in many of his plays, which is quite amazing, since no writers back then ever would have done that.

Reflection: These two scenes are comparing people with good intents, with those with bad ones. Like in the first scene, its filled with love and excitement and good friendships, as opposed to scene 2 where they are plotting destruction and don’t have a loving bone in their body. I think Shakespeare set the scenes out this way for that contrasting effect, to make it more dramatic. Along with love and friendship in scene one, there is a lot of feminist pride, brought on by Beatrice. Hero is more shy and acts like women should in those times, when Beatrice is bubbly, and the total opposite. Maybe this goes for the same effect as the two scenes. This whole play has a lot of interesting things: Don John and Don Pedro, one being melancholy, and the other happy and kind. Beatrice and Hero, one acts as a woman should, and the other pushes the boundaries. The relationship between Beatrice and Benedick, where they clearly “fancy” each other but always deny it; and the relationship of Claudio and Hero, where they don't fight the love, they just take it in.

Question: Did Shakespeare actually wrote these roles to contrast others, or was that a mere accident?

litblog 7

                                      Much Ado About Nothing                                 Act I scene 2-3

Summary: In scene 2, Leonato tells his brother Antonio that Claudio is in love with Antonio’s daughter,Hero, and that he is planning on asking for her hand in marrige. In scene 3, Conrad is making an attempt to cheer up Don John, who openly says how he dispises his brother. Then Borachio comes in telling them of Claudios plans to propose to Hero.

Quote: “I wonder that thou, being, as thou sayst thou art, born under Saturn, goest about to apply a moral medicine to a mortifying mischief. I cannot hide what I am. I must be sad when I have cause and smile at no man’s jests, eat when I have stomach and wait for no man’s leisure, sleep when I am drowsy and tend on no man’s business, laugh when I am merry and claw no man in his humor.”

Significance of Quote: This is Don John speaking to Conrade about why he is sad, but thsi quote really gives insight to who Don John is as a character. As you can tell, he seems like a very melancholy, sad, even depressed guy. Knowing that he is the brother of the Prince, he will be the underestimated brother.

Reflection: These two scenes reflect friendship between two different types of people: Leonato and his brother entrust each other with secrets they thought would benefit the other, and Don John and Conrade, one trying to cheer the other up. Shakespeare was obiously familiar with the concept of frienship, and maybe he created these characters as a reflection of his real life relationships.

Question: Is Don John only sad because he is the less impportant brother, or is there other reasons behind it?