Things Fall Apart

So far Im not loving this book or anything, but its not bad. Its weird going from such deep and symoblic novels and plays to this book. Its very straight forward and seems like a 5th grader is writing it, but i guess its a nice change. Its very apparent taht the women mean nothing in this village. They dont even have names the first few chapters. the men are very dominant. This also shows through the beatings that they give to their wives. They beat them over the stupidest things too, because one woman didnt make dinner but got her hair done. Its interesting to see how culutres are so different and how the times now are so different. Im interested to see waht happens later on in the book and what else we learn about this culture.

the kite runner

I absolutley love the novel The Kite Runner. I would highly recommend it to anyone who hasnt read it. I actaully did cry while I read it, which doesnt really happen a lot to me. It really got me involved with the story and i got so attached with the characters. I saw the movie and i was really disappointed. i have come to find that i never ever like the movie as much as the book. Its always a huge disappointment. They left out huge parts of the book. And they were very important parts too. I was really bummed that it was only a few parts of the book. They also didnt do a very good job at devolping the characters. I didnt feel as attached to them as I did during the book, and i didnt like the actor choices. But even though the movie was disappointing i still love the whole story line and everything that happens.

A Raisin in the Sun

This play was actaully very well done. At first i got very annyoed and was like "oh my gosh this is so slow!" but after the first act, it got a lot better. It was very good and seemed higher than a high shcool production. The actors did an amazing job and it was really fun to see people I know starring in this play. I loved Hatties role as the mother. She did an amazing job as actually taking on the role and really getting into character. I never knew that Hattie had such a beautiful voice. Thomas also did a fantastic job. I wouldnt be surprised at all if he actually becomes an actor when he grows up. I was really inspired wthroughtout this pkay. it dealt with a lot of real world problems currently; poverty, racism, abortion and alcoholsim. It was really good but it was extremely long and drawn on, but overall i really enjoyed it.

Tragedy

Hamlet is definitely a tragic figure. He brings much suffering to others thourgouht the whole play, but it is also becuase of the suffering that is brought onto him because of others. Its kind of ironic becuase its like a curcle. I often wish that Hamlet could haver just been more decisive and then everyones suffering would be non exsistent. If claudius would have just been killed in the beginning then it wiould have solved alot, then again this play wouldnt exsist then. It just gets me really upset when i think about all of this. I would like to get answers from shakespeare really quick just so i can know what he intended. then again, maybe shakespeare doesnt even know what he meant. its just all one big question.

The ending

WOW. what!? i cant even beleive that that was the ending of The Grapes of Wrath. So basically, it ends with us having no idea what happens to the Joads, just Rose of Sharon breast feeding an old man. Thats so beyond disgusting and it just really diappoints me. I know that it is a lot of symbolism, but i wish it jsut wasnt so obvious so we actually had to think a little. I know it symbolises hope and a new beginning and thats great, but really, id rather know what happens to the family. Im very upset and thought id just share my feelings.

Quotes

I thought I would blog about some important quotes from Grapes:

“Lying on its back, the turtle was tight in its shell for a long time. But at last its legs waved in the air, reaching for something to pull it over. Its front foot caught a piece of quartz and little by little the shell pulled over and flopped upright” (pg 15- 16 chapter 3)

This turtle symbolizes so much. It basically describes the book, but in terms of a turtle. The turtle flipping over symbolizes that there are very hard times ahead. They are going to struggle and struggle to get back on there feet but eventually they will, but with great hardship. The quote goes on to say that the turtle will drag dirt over seeds, which shows he will then be prosperous. So through these hard times, the Joad’s will end up starting fresh and be successful once again.

. “They breathe profits; they eat the interest on money. If they don't get it, they die the way you die without air, without side-meat.” (pg 37 chapter 5)

This quote is talking about the bankers. He is saying that they really only live for the profit. Profit is the same to them as air is to different men. If they didn’t have a profit, they would die, like people would die without air. This is actually very sad because it takes away all the human qualities of people and they just don’t care about what happens to others anymore. This is important to the whole context of the novel because this is how the whole troubles of the Joad’s and all of these families started; they got their land and homes taken away by heartless bankers who are only in it for the money.

“Goin' to California? Here's jus' what you ... need.Looks shot, but they's thousan's of miles in her." (pg 66 chapter 7)

This quote shows all the lie and corruption that went on throughout the novel. Chapter 7 is all about the car salesmen and how they take advantage of people. This is what people would do in order to live. They are all ripping each other off because that is what they think they have to do in order to live and feed their families. This is constantly going on and then it just ends up harming everyone.

Hamlet and his mom...sick.

So what we watched today was absolutely disgusting. I dont know about you guys, but i did not read that part of the play was Hamlet and is mom basically having sex on a bed....even if you think it was acceptable that moms and sons were more touchy back then, ms. Clinch, im pretty sure it wasnt acceptable to dry hump your mother. haha wow. but anyway, i imagined it as more of the other version of the movie portrayed. I feel like they were more jsut talking and Hamlet was expressing his anger in a normal why, not by making out with his mother. I know that he might have the Oedipus Complex but i feel like Gertrude was the one who initiated the whole bed scene. Anyway, I just wanted to express my confusion and dislike of this scene. It's quite disturbing to me. 

a funny poem i found

SORTING LAUNDRY 

by Elisavietta Ritchie

  I found a funny poem that i really enjoyed. She talks about laundry as more than just doing a boring chore its about love and relationships. the sheets and pillow cases could represent her long time lover. She talks about the towels which were on sale which made me picture a couple shopping for their things they need. I found a biblical allusions with the socks because how its impossible to find pairs of socks, to Noah's ark, like each sock has a pair like how each animal has a pair. I also agree with how you also find treasures in your clothes, which i love. I also think she's saying that she cant "fold the clothes" by herself which i take as going through life by herself. I think of the "wrinkles" as little problems all throughout life that have to be sorted out and fixed. I think its so cool and funny how the author took something thats so apart of everyday life and applied it to love and life in general. 

Fortinbras and Hamlet

These two characters have so much in common yet act differently. Fortinbras' father was also killed, but by King Hamlet so he wants to attack Denmark, which sucks for Hamlet. Fortinbras is much more quick to want his revenge and doesnt think it through. Hamlet, on the other hand, carefully thinks through all his decisions before making and final decision. He wants to make sure that Claudius is the one who killed his father before making his plans for revenge. This makes Hamlet very indecisve but then its weird because he will then make really rash decsions out of no where. Hamlet it one confusing guy. Hamlet is a very thoughtful character and thinks through every little thing. Half the play is Hamlet debating whether he should avenge his fathers death or not. Fortinbras is very decisive and immediately decides to avenge his father and lies to his uncle to do so. He is much more of a warrior and is much more worried about conquest and Hamlet is not at all worried about it. So although they have similar situations, they both act completely different.

sex with ophelia?

Have Hamlet and Ophelia had sex? thats the big question. Im going to have to say yes to that. First of all, Hamlet was so so hurt that Ophelia betrayed him, the type of hurt that doesn't just come along with a little crush. Also Ophelia had some of his things, which is a little fishy. The one thing that made it seem like maybe they weren't was the fact that hamlet said I loved you once and she said you sure made me believe so, so that makes it seem like they are literally talking about love not sex, because you cant make someone believe that you had sex with them, its a for sure thing. i feel like this book has no answers and it annoys me because i just want to know what is really going on and stop guessing! but hey, its good and keeps my attention for sure. 

Mel Gibson and BBC

I thought it was really interesting seeing the two different version of Hamlet and how different a scene can be interpurted. I think that the Hamlet in the BBC version was extremely dramatic and almost seemed like he was ruining the whole play. i could not watch him without thinking that this whole thing is ridiculous and laughing. I thought the Gibson version was much more realistic and seemed more modern day acting. i liked how he was a lot calmer and didnt act like a drama queen. i also think that the BBC hamlet was very miscast and seemed like he was forty. I think that Gibson was much better cast. Although the Gibson version was by far my favorite, i think that maybe the BBC version was more true to what Shakespeare actaully wanted it to be like, but i cant say that for certain. I really like watching the movie versions because i think it helps us to understand better.

The dust bowl

well, as i do my research on the dust bowl, i thought i could also blog about it. THe dust bowl was all throughout the 30's and it was caused by severe dust storms, drought and because the farmers didnt rotate their crop. Acres of farmland became useless and families were falling apart. People were starving and not getting any money. it was a really hard time and especially since it was around the depression too. It left almost 500,000 homeless. It was a huge diaster. Because of this, there was a huge migration with millions of poeple. noone knew what to do. The governements response was to conserve the soil, but nothing really helped. Im really excited to read this book though because ive hread its really good so im pretty pumped.

Lion King and Hamlet

Wow. I cant help but notice how Lion King is basically the story of Hamlet in every aspect except Simbas mom didnt get married to Scar. Scar kills Mofasa and then he wants to take over the crown except Simba gets to be king eventually. Im thinking that this means that Hamlet will most likely get to be king in the end. Hamlet thinks he can trust Claudius jsut like Simba thinks he can trust Scar. I think Mala is just like ophelia too. It makes me really excited that this is based off of Hamlet because i love The Lion King!

Slumdog millionare

i recently saw slum dog millionare and it was actaully really good. it was by far the best moive that i saw over the break and it was exciting becuase it basically won like every award. When i left the movie theater i kept re-thinking the movie in my head. It made me feel so bad for the kids in india. when that speker came to talk to us it reminded me a lot of how it looked over in india, except there wasnt really an aids problem, but there were so many people that were homeless and kids that were orphans and people that would just come a shoot one another. i dont know it was jsut really sad but it made me really excited because it was really good and im glad that it won so many awards.

The Speaker

I really enjoyed this speaker that we went to today. It actaully made me really sad. Its weird seeing all these people that have nothing and whose family members die daily and then look at us. we have so much compared to them. There are so many children that die and i know that i know that but it was just a wake up call when i actually saw the pictures of them. I thought it was really cool taht this woman would give up her carrer in fashion photography though so go over there and help. She wants more people to be aware of whats going on in the world and not just be consimed wiht america which i think is awesome of her.

Benjamin Button

I really enjoyed this movie and i thought you would too ms. clinch. despite the fact that it was 3 hours long, it still kept my attention. i did some research on it and found out that it is based off of one of Fitzgearleds short stoires. I read it and it is quite similar. There were some details that were different but other than that it was basiclally the same.

i dont want to ruin the story for anyone but basically its about a kid who is born as an old man and then gets younger as he ages. its a really weird concept to grasp at first but i really liked it. i actaully felt really bad for Benjamin. It really made me appreaciate life and how you age and get older reather than younger. You see how people always complain about getting older, but really thats how it should be. i loved the movie and recommend it to anyone but there is a lot of talking and its long.