AP Literature Poems

Mirror by Sylvia Path

To best represent the life of the mirror, the entire poem is written from the view point of the mirror itself. The figurative language used by the mirror enhances the narration and provides a more complex view of the mirror' surrounding and life. For example, "In me she has drowned a young girl, and in me an old woman/ Rises toward her day after day, like a terrible fish." This comparison of youth and aging,  provide insight on what the mirror is thinking and what the mirror sees as the time passes by. The personification of the mirror creates a relatable yet ominous connection to the mirror.
The mirror observes and sees the objects and people all around it. "Whatever I see I swallow immediately/ Just as it is, unmisted by love or dislike./ I am not cruel, only truthful./ The eye of a little god, four-cornered." Humans are like the mirror, however, has a menacing feature, it has no emotions. 

Terrance this is stupid stuff 

In the first stanza, the narrator expresses a negative connotation to life. He expresses his frustrations and lack of hope with life. He represents his melancholy and depressed theme. He then goes on to argue that even though alcohol provides a happy escape from the world, this newly constructed reality is false and short-lived. In the third stanza, he justifies this claim by proclaiming that, "Therefore, since the world has still Much good, but much less good than ill, And while the sun and moon endure Luck's a chance, but trouble's sure, I'd face it as a wise man would, And train for ill and not for good." By preparing for the "ill", people can confront the terrible that will eventually find them. The final gives an example of how preparing for the worst brings the best. A King would introduce his body to dangerous toxins and eventually his body adapted and resisted the toxin. 


Metaphors

Sylvia Plath wrote as a wife and a mother at a time when what it meant to be those things was rapidly changing. Plath wrote this poem about a year before she gave birth, but while she writes about her own personal experience, she also draws from universal experiences of being a woman in any age. The speaker of the poem has her own take on pregnancy, but came off as bitter. She calls herself a riddle, an elephant, a melon, a fat purse, among other things that portray her indifference towards pregnancy and she comes across as unhappy about being an expectant mother.

Themes and Symbols from "Persuasion"

Themes

1. Persuasion.

The novel contemplates whether or not persuasion is a positive or a negative force. While Anne believes that strong character and an independent mind are good qualities, she is also receptive to a sense of obligation and duty. She concludes that it was right for her to allow herself to be persuaded because "a strong sense of duty is no bad part of a woman's portion." 

2. Silly Parents.

Silly parents are a prevalent role in Persuasion. Due to Sir Walter's immaturity and imprudence, the Elliots are forced to leave their homes and reside in Bath. Sir Walter is not a source of guidance for his daughters; he is so self-involved that he is unable to make good decisions for the family. His 'silliness' has influenced his daughters, Elizabeth and Mary to act the same way. Elizabeth shares his self-importance, while Mary is so full of self-pity and is offended very easily. Anne is the only daughter who has the good sense and strength of character. 

3. The Idea of Gentleman.

This novel represents two very distinct versions of English gentleman. On one hand is Sir Walter, the traditional, land-owning, titled man who avoids work and seeks comfort. On the other hand is Captain Wentworth and Admiral Croft. Both men are naval officers who have made their own fortune. However, they do not fall on the same high social rank as Sir Walter. During this period, the definition of 'gentleman' was becoming more flexible and changing. 

Symbol

1. Kellynch Hall.

Kellynch Hall is more than just a really big house: it's the grandest house in the area, because it belongs to the highest-ranked family in the area, the Elliots. The house represents power and is a from of moral power for everyone else. The Elliots are suppose to live up to this standard. There is no room for failure.

"Persuasion" by Jane Austen

As a young woman, I seek primary role models in my life. Jane Austen is one of those role models. She once stated that "If adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad." Jane Austen was an author of numerous novels that invoke naturalism. She stood out amongst the public because she did not follow social norms. Her writing has inspired me to seek my own adventures and read literature. Earlier this month, I began to read Persuasion. This is the last novel Austen fully completed. It also considered to be the most romantic of Jane Austen's works.

Persuasion opens with a brief history of the Elliot family as recorded in Sir Walter Elliot's favorite book, The Baronetcy. The Elliot's are a respected, titled, landowning family. Lady Elliot, Sir Walter's wife died 14 years ago and abandoned him with 3 daughters: Elizabeth, Anne, and Mary. Mary is married to a wealthy man, and Elizabeth and Anne are single. Austen's Persuasion, depicts a young woman's struggle with love, friendship and family. Anne Elliot, who is beautiful and kind, had been previously engaged to Frederick Wentworth. Wentworth is a young naval officer. Anne had been persuaded by Lady Russel to end the engagement, because of his financial state and misunderstandings. In the novel, men and woman are represented as moral equals. Overall, throughout the split, Anne was miserable and tried to get him back.

Themes in The Importance of Being Earnest

1. Sincerity vs Hypocrisy.

This is one of the most prevalent themes that runs throughout the play. Many scenes reflect this theme, such as when Gwendolen and Cecily had a catfight over their soon-to-be husbands, but disguise it with behind polite tea conversation. Another example is when Lady Bracknell interrogates Jack about Cecily with the aim of judging her suitability as a wife.

2. Double Life (aka Bunbury).

All the main characters lead a double life. Jack invented an imaginary brother named Ernest who allowed him to do all sorts of things in the town. Algernon invented an imaginary friend named Bunbury who enables him to escape his responsibilities and go to the country. Gwendolen is fixated on marrying someone named Ernest that by the time Jack proposes, she has already constructed a romance in her mind.

3. Marriage.

There are several exchanges in the play about marriage. In the beginning, Algernon and Lane are discussing marriage and whether or not it's desirable. For Cecily, marriage is way to fulfill her fantasy romance and continue her and Ernest's story. For Lady Bracknell, marriage is based on financial stability and social respectability.

4. Earnest or Ernest?

In the Importance of being Earnest, Wilde twists and plays with the Victorian character. Earnestness implies serious and boring, reflecting the Victorian character. For Wilde, the word earnest is comprised of two things: false truth and false morality. The moralism of Victorian society impels Algernon and Jack to invent imaginary people in order to escape responsibilities.

The Importance of Being Earnest

In class, we have been reading Oscar Wilde's play, "The Importance of Being Earnest". In the play, Jack Worthing, the play's protagonist, is the guardian to Cecily Cardew. He was found adopted when he was a baby. In the town of Hertfordshire, Jack is a major landowner. He has also pretended to have a brother named Ernest, who allows him to disappear for days at a time and do as he likes. Ernest is the name Jack goes by in London. Algernon, Jack's close friend, has also created his own version of Ernest, named Bunbury. Oscar Wilde uses comedy, witty conversations, and satire, to reveal the shallowness and deceitfulness of these characters. His writing style provides insight into how Wilde perceives the privileged upper class. The most ironic part of the play is the title. "Earnest" means honest and truthful, however, no one in the play is either one of those things. Everyone is either superficial or full of deceit. Wilde also satirized the fact that men had power over women during that time, when in reality, women were doing all the sacrificing.

Part of the success of the play comes from Wilde's incorporations of epigrams. Epigrams are sayings or remarks that express an idea in a clever and amusing way. A few examples in the play are, "Divorces are made in heaven" and "It's only the intellectual lost who ever argue." With marriage, Wilde was making the point that divorces are a way to attain happiness than marriage.

The Act of Nurturing

Even though vengeance can overtake one's mind, the act of nurturing is inscribed in human nature. In Mary Shelley's novel "Frankenstein", the creature is rejected by his creator and human kind. As a result, the creature is fueled by vengeance and wants revenge on his creator. However, throughout this process, human nature causes the creature to be nurturing. Furthermore, the creature's spontaneous acts of nurture, cause him to learn and crave knowledge.

The creature stumbles upon a cottage with a family who reside in it. Due to his previous encounters with humans, the understands his hideous features do not allow him to integrate into society. Therefore, he is isolated from society. The creature doesn't attempt to interact with his neighbors, the Delacey's. "I was in reality the monster that I am...Alas! I did not yet entirely know the fatal effects of this miserable deformity. "Although, the creature provides the Delacey's with firewood and discontinues stealing their food. "I often took his tools...and brought home firing sufficient for the consumption of several days." His actions demonstrate how the creature cared for his neighbors.

In an attempt to form a friendship with the Delacey's, the creature is rejected once again. The creature-acting on vengeance- burns down their cottage. "The cottage was quickly enveloped by the flames." However, the creature is still inclined to nurture human beings. He proved this when the creature rescued a girl from drowning. "Suddenly her foot slipped and she fell into the rapid stream. [I] saved her, and dragged her to shore." The creature is naturally inclined to save the girl, thus demonstrating his nurturing ability.

To My Mother.. (Finale)

How can a house, a collection of wood and glass, have so much power over someone? In order to make my virtues project memorable, I had to first start with a foundation. My home is the foundation of all my memories and my collection of items. But a home truly isn't a home unless it's filled with cordial bodies. Those inside the home fill it with love and warmth and, most importantly, memories. I believe memories are memorable. Memories are our most precious possession that we hold. Not everyone recollects the same, but we do share the same memory. In order to obtain accurate memories, I had to ask my mother about the memories I share with her. As the saying goes, there are two sides to every story. Not only did I want my project to be heart-felt, but I also wanted it to be valid. Building a project like this not only helped me understand my mother better, but my peers as well. I am thankful for Mrs. Mahr for inscribing a new virtue in me: diligence. The following is the last virtue in my project. 

Key #10 Thankfulness:

When you are pleased and grateful for what you have.

My mother is someone who values every single thing she has. My mother grew up very poor. She never had a collection of Barbie dolls or a board game. She only had sticks and rocks to play with. When I am at the store with my mom I have a tendency to say “well it's only $1..it’s only nail polish...it’s only this", but for someone living in poverty a dollar is all that they have and nail polish is a luxury. My mother is the one who showed me to appreciate everything that I have and I do. I am also thankful for my mother. She has given me clear guidance and good advice. She has shown me love and is always there when I need her. Be thankful for what you have. Be thankful for your parents, your friends, your teachers. They are your moral compass. So next time you see someone you love and care about just give them a hug and say thank you. Make them feel appreciated.    

To My Mother.. (part 2)

As I continued my Virtue’s project, I never forgot my true purpose in constitutiing this project: obliging to it being memorable. I collected that my mother is memorable and that she deserves an entire project based on her influence on me. However, I was in charge of portraying all her magnificent qualities through my writing and the use of rhetorical devices. But I feared failure. I feared I would not do my mother any justice. I feared that my project wouldn’t be memorable. How could such a project have this effect on me? Perhaps it's the amount of love I have in her gave me anxiety. The following virtues were hardest to write due to the amount of anxiety and stress I felt.

Key #6 Acceptance:

A person's assent to the reality of a situation, recognizing a process or condition (often a negative or uncomfortable situation) without attempting to change it or protest it.

A key to failure is accepting your mistakes and moving on. But it does not only involve accepting your mistakes but also the people around you. To accept someone is to show respect for and validation of who they are, what they do, and for the life and path they chose. It by no means agreeing with or approving of anything about another. A place where one feels safe to be who they are is a happy place. My mother was never quick to judge. She told me that we all have different qualities and opinions but that doesn't mean we can’t respect one another.

Acceptance doesn’t just involve accepting others but it also involves accepting yourself. There have been many moments where I didn’t feel comfortable in my own skin. I absolutely hated my body, the clothes I wore, even the way I spoke. I just wanted to shrivel away until I was less than dust. One day my mother asked me why I was so obsessed with losing weight or why I always wore the same clothes or why I never went out anymore. I told her that I wanted to change. I wanted to become better. She didn’t get angry or upset. She calmly said “you need to accept who are first and then improve those amazing qualities.”  What she said was true. You need to see the truth about yourself and accept it and then decide whether or not you want to change.

Key #9 Love:

An intense feeling of deep connection.

The first person I ever loved was my mother and she was the first person who loved me in return. Love is the constant source of pleasure and pain. But we can’t predict which it will be from one moment to the next. Love is such a great experience. Everyone’s definition of love is different. My definition is my mom. She is the only person who holds the key to my heart. Loving someone else gives you a purpose in life. It makes you happy. It makes you scared. It makes you mad. It makes you go insane but love is what makes you feel. Love is what makes you alive. Love will get you through the bad days in a blink of an eye. In order to love you have to be vulnerable. You have to be courageous. You have to be willing to sacrifice. You have to be open. You have to be willing to fail. You have to be accepting. You have to experience joy. You have to have hope. Every virtue includes love. Its inevitable. My advice to you is to not suppress love but instead absorb it. But remember that no one deserves fake love so don’t give fake love.

Gloomy and Hopeless

This week in class, we were asked to write about the characterization of the creature in Frankenstein. How does Mary Shelley characterize the creature in the passage? The passage I chose was page 917. In this passage, Mary Shelley characterizes the creature as incredibly gloomy and hopeless who yearns for human interaction. The creature attempts to integrate himself into human social patterns, but his hideous features frighten all who see him. The townsfolk have demoralized the creature, and have forced him to live a life of isolation. "I was in reality the monster that I am, I was filled with the bitterest sensations of dependence and mortification." (page 917) As a result of his isolation, the creature discovers the world on his own. The creature observes his fellow neighbors and develops an elegant and formal speech. "Yet I pronounced such words as I understood with tolerable ease." (page 917) The juxtaposition of this speech with the creature's deformed features, create an effect that increases the reader's understanding of the creatures tragedy. The irony is that the townsfolk fear his monstrous presence, but are monsters themselves for lacking empathy and mercy towards the creature. The creature strives
to formulate a connection with his neighbors by understanding them. Mary Shelley portrays this when she says, "My thoughts now become more active, and I longed to discover the motives and feelings of these lovely creatures." (page 917) To conclude, the creature is a dynamic and round character. Mary Shelley wants the audience to sympathize with the creature when he is forced to live a life of isolation.

To My Mother.. (part 1)

Recently I was asked to write about a project I enjoyed working on. Fortunately, I thought of a few projects. However, there was one project in particular that stood out the most. My junior year of high school, Mrs. Mahr had the class work on a Virtue's project. Students had a choice to present however they would like, as long as it followed the guidelines and was "memorable." Constituting a project on it being memorable was very difficult for me. I continuously asked myself who or what in my life is memorable. Ultimately, I collected my thoughts and decided to build my project based on my mother; after all, she is the one who has given me guidance in life.
Thus, I went to Michaels and bought a scrapbook, patterned paper, and 3-D stickers, hoping these materials would suffice as memorable. Assembling the scrapbook wasn't hard at all. The difficult part was filling those pages with words describing my mother, and how her virtues are now my own virtues. The following are the first 2 virtues from the scrapbook I made, titled "To My Mother.." Enjoy.

Key #1 Openness:

The quality of being willing to accept new ideas or people.

There are two bodies of water one visits in their lifetime. The first one, and most commonly visited, is a swimming pool. The second, is the ocean. These bodies of water are made up of the same substance. Yet, although sharing similarities, they are both extremely different. A pool is enclosed by concrete walls. It is explored only by those who are nearby and stays in one place; therefore, it is the opposite of openness. The ocean is the definition of openness. The ocean covers so much of the earth’s surface and has a variety of ethnicities plunge into its water. The ocean has seen much of the earth and is wise and strong. My mother is my ocean and has taught me how to accept anyone and their ideas. She has taught me how to keep my mind open and my heart available for new experiences, new ideas, new relationships. She has taught me how to work to move beyond the boundaries of the familiar and break down the walls of comfortability. With letting yourself be open, you let yourself be molded each and every time you let someone in. That’s why I thought keys were best to represent these 10 virtues because you need a key to open new doors and these “new doors” are my virtues. However, it may be risky so you must have courage.

Key #2 Courage:

Staying strong in the face of pain or grief.

Freshman year of High School my grandpa, or as I refer to him, my Papa, was diagnosed with cancer. For a long time my grandpa was in and out of hospitals. He couldn't walk and refused to eat his meals. Subsequently, he quickly became weak and fragile. My mother was in so much pain but through it all she had courage. My mother gave my grandpa strength to help him get through the chemotherapy. Her courage came in many forms. She would talk about her childhood;a time where my grandpa was strong and brave. He would remember the moments when he wasn’t afraid. Even though bringing up those memories made her remember when her father wasn’t ill, my grandpa would smile. My mother and my grandpa needed courage to overcome cancer. My grandpa’s cancer was like an open wound and my mother’s courage was his stitches to seal that open wound. Courage is what stitch your wounds together until your wound heals. It is what gives you strength to persevere. Courage helps you face your fears and keeps you moving forward.

An Admired Ghost Story

This week in my AP Literature class, we began to read Frankenstein. No it's not the tall, green, and dumb monster who eats people and scares the heck out of children. On the contrary, Frankenstein is a story about Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who is the creator of an unnamed, hideous, sapient creature. Mary Shelley, the author, wrote Frankenstein because of a nightmare she had one night, which then became a ghost story. She began writing the novel when she was 18 and published the it anonymously. Mary Shelley is recognized as a romantic writer. Romantics were seen as the "hippies" of their period. Romantics believed they were guided by their human passions, rather than science explained in the Age of Reason. These writers were a counterculture to the Age of Reason,
or The Enlightenment.

Mary Shelley's mother was a woman named Mary Wollstonecraft. Mary was a feminist and fought for woman's rights. She also was an advocate for woman's right to vote. Mary died giving birth to her daughter, Mary Shelley. Therefore, Shelley grew up with only her father. Her father's friends were extremely famous and intelligent. Shelley was always around them. One of her father's friends, Percy Bysshe Shelley married Mary. Later on he passed away. Shelley must have been inspired to write this novel due to there being constant deaths of loved ones in her life.

What Drives Me?

This past week, I  started an essay for the Jiffy Lube scholarship. The winner earns $3,500 and finalists earn $1,500. I've decided to make my essay into one of my blogs. So here is a rough draft of my essay for Jiffy Lube and the answer to the question: What drives me?

I am driven by my desire to change and better an individual through discovery and listening. Discovery and listening are two crucial components to help someone unravel their strengths and resilience. Becoming a clinical psychologist will allow me to specialize in physical health concerns and help patients to manage stress or chronic illnesses. Furthermore, clinical psychologist work with a numerous population that include veterans, athletes, and the elderly. I enjoy working with people and helping them overcome hardships. This past fall, I secured myself an internship at Renown. There, I am exposed to a variety of patients of different age groups, backgrounds, and health concerns. Interning at Renown has been a great experience and has ameliorated my desire to help those in need. I listen to patients’ concerns and communicate their needs with the registered nurses on the floor. I have discovered that a hospital is a fast-pacing environment that I am drawn to.

My desire to help others and better them began when my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer. His diagnosis took a toll on his mental state and physical state as well. Low mood and depression can constitute in a cancer patient. I witnessed such behavior and tried my best to help manage it. Seeing his behavior change and watch him grow into a stronger and more confident individual, increased my desire to help others.

For a rough draft, it's average. I still have quite a bit of time to revise and edit it. I thought by making my essay into a blog, I would be motivated to actually work on it. Well, I did add on to it. So far, there is some progress. 

Breaking Dawn Part 2: The Finale

Breaking Dawn part 2 is the finale to the Twilight saga. Bella survived, and is now a vampire. Her daughter, Renesme is born and is growing at an exponentially fast pace. Due to Bella giving birth, the Vultori see the child as a threat to all mankind and vampires. They believe Renesme is an immortal child because her parents are both vampires. However, Bella was human when she gave birth to Renesme. It was until after the birth, Bella became a vampire.
Edward and Bella gather vampires from all over the world to create an army that will fight against the Vultori. The group of vampires that joined their army have special abilities. A large amount of the abilities affect the mind. But there is one exception, Benjamin has the ability to control earth's four basic elements. It has been speculated that these gifts have been passed down genetically generation to generation.
Jacob imprinting on Renesme is also explained in this film. Imprinting is when a shape-shifter, or werewolf, is completely devoted to one person. Devotion can come in many forms. For example, being an older sibling or a protector to the imprinted. Imprinting creates a powerful bond between two people. It doesn't necessarily mean two people must have a romantic relationship. However, many spectators view imprinting as pedophilia, which can seem that way. Although, for Jacob and Renesme, imprinting is just a brother and sister relationship.
Towards the end, there is a throw down between the Cullens (and their army) and the Voluturi. In the fight scene, we see how vampires are killed. However, the entire fight scene turns out to be a vision from Alice. Alice, Edward's adopted sister, has the ability to see the future. Alice uses her ability to warn Aro, the leader of the Vultori, the deaths and disasters that will happen if they battle.
Although, Aro still worries that the child will cause destruction. It is until Renesme used her ability to show her side of the story, when Aro sees the child differently.

"Oh, beware, my lord, of jealousy!"

Human beings are convinced that trust and love can help overcome any hardship, however, lack of communication and manipulation leads to jealousy; an emotion that can consume an individual and a relationship. There are three characters in Othello that follow the theme of jealousy.

The first character is Iago. Iago fueled jealousy in Othello by implanting lies about Desdemona and Cassio having an affair. Iago plots his revenge to bring Othello crashing down. Iago is consumed by his own jealousy, believing his wife, Emilia, had an affair with Othello and is also upset about Cassio being lieutenant. In Act II, scene iii, Iago delivers a soliloquy where he informs the audience of his plan to plant Desdemona’s handkerchief in Cassio’s room, inflaming Othello’s jealousy.

The second character is Othello. Iago’s constant reminder of Desdemona’s infidelity causes Othello to be consumed by jealousy. He is unstable and aggressive and murders his wife at the end of the play. Othello hits his wife when she told him she has lost the handkerchief.

The final character is Desdemona. She blames herself for the actions of her husband. She believes that she is not contributing enough to her marriage, when in reality, her husband is to blame. She is used in Iago’s plan to make Othello jealous.

Shakespeare utilizes rhetorical devices in the theme of jealous. He demonstrates imagery and allusion. For example, Iago uses imagery to create a lucid picture that makes it hard to believe that anything is true. For example, in Act III, scene iii, Iago describes Cassio’s naughty dream about Desdemona to Othello. “In sleep I heard him say ‘Sweet Desdemona, Let us be wary, let us hide our loves.’” Iago framed Cassio to make it seem like he’s sleeping with Desdemona. This was all part of his plan to make Othello jealous.

An example of allusion is when Othello alludes to religious ideology found in the bible. For example, Othello makes an allusion to the bible Act IV, scene ii, when he states, “You, mistress, / That have the office opposite to Saint peter…” Here Othello is referring to Desdemona as the guardian of the gates of Hell. Othello is implying that Desdemona will go to Hell. At this point he believes Iago’s lies and sees Desdemona as a sinner.

Breaking Dawn Part 1: Renesme

Breaking Dawn is the final book and film in the Twilight franchise. In the films, the final book was divided into two parts. Therefore, I decided to write about it as two separate parts. At the beginning, Bella and Edward get married. The wedding goes smoothly until Jacob shows up unexpectedly. Jacob worries for Bella's safety when Bella tells Jacob that her and Edward will have a "normal honeymoon", implying that they will have sex. Jacob fears that Edward might hurt Bella unintentionally. As Jacob predicted, Edward leaves Bella with bruises and breaks the bed.

Towards the end of her honeymoon, Bella finds out that she is pregnant. She tells Edward and he is astonished, quickly gathering her items to fly back to Forks. There Edward and the rest of the Cullens discuss what to do with the baby without asking Bella for her opinions. In the end, Bella tells them it is her child and that she will keep her. Since the baby is half immortal, it develops at an alarming rate, not allowing Bella's body to adapt to the changes her body is going through fast enough. Throughout this process, Edward is not supporting Bella because he doesn't see the child as a baby but as monster that could potentially kill Bella. This is the first time in the saga that Bella is not dependent on anyone. In fact, she realizes that she must be selfless and ignore Edward's remarks, because her child is now dependent on her.

Before the child is even born, there are plenty of enemies out to kill the child. Jacob's pack sees the child as a threat and plan to kill the child. Jacob seems to shine in the book as he goes against the pack leader's wishes and backs the leader of the pack down. Therefore, Jacob chose to side with the vampires than his own blood. Once the child is born, Bella's light goes out and she dies. In an attempt to try to resuscitate her, Edward bites her to try to change her into a vampire. Jacob sees the baby and immediately imprints on her. He will become a protector, a brother, anyone she wants in the future. In the end, Bella's future is not certain but her baby, Renesme seems to be just fine.

Eclipse: Ripple Effect

Eclipse is the third installment to the Twilight Saga franchise. The third film explores a love triangle between Bella, Edward, and Jacob. Bella is surrounded by danger as Seattle is hit by newborn vampires who are murdering citizens and an evil vampire who continues her request for revenge. Action was introduced to Eclipse in order to draw in a larger audience and make it less romantic. 

Even though I am a fan of the Twilight Saga, Eclipse is my least favorite film. Bella's indecisiveness causes a ripple effect. Bella loves Edward and Jacob, a werewolf and a vampire. Werewolves and vampires are natural enemies. They aren't meant to coexist with each other. They both have their differences. Bella fails to see the bigger picture. She is causing tension amongst the two, putting both parties in danger. 

Bella is also the reason why an army of newborn vampires are murdering the citizens of Seattle. In the first film, Edward kills Victoria's significant other because he tried killing Bella. Victoria, felling anger and showing no remorse, created an army of newborn vampires to go after Bella. As I mentioned before, ripple effect. 

Not only that, but the Volturi had to get involved as well. The Volturi are a civilized coven of vampires, the largest and most powerful in the series, and enforce the laws of the vampire world. It consists of 5 members, each with a unique power. The murders in Seattle became news and it became a focal point in the city. Therefore, The Volturi had to control the situation by murdering all newborn vampires. However, at the end of the film, Bella managed to unite vampires and werewolves to destroy the army of newborn vampires. I guess that's the only silver lining in the film. 

Major Symbols and Motifs in Othello

Symbols and motifs are central to understanding Othello as a play. Symbols is a thing that represents or stands for something else. A motif is any recurring element that has a symbolic significance in a story. Symbols and motifs are not the same thing.

1. Handkerchief.
The handkerchief is the main tool Iago uses to make Othello jealous. All the main characters of the play seem to be intertwined with the handkerchief. The handkerchief is an emblem of love for Othello and Desdemona's marriage. Emilia found the handkerchief and gave it to her husband to make him happy. However, she was unknowingly betraying Desdemona. Iago told Othello that Desdemona gave it away to Cassio, causing tension in their marriage.

2. Candle.
The candle blows out as soon as Othello murders his wife, Desdemona. This symbolizes him ending or extinguishing her life.

3. Animals.
Beginning in Act I Scene I, Iago introduces the animalistic imagery. According to Iago, there is something wild and bestial about Othello, as he refers to him as "the old black ram." Iago degrades and dehumanizes Othello, making him an easy target.

4. The Bed.
Othello and Desdemona's relationship is an extremely physical based relationship. Therefore, their relationship started with the bed. Desdemona and Othello ended up dead together on the bed with Emilia (also dead) in between them. Emilia has always been in between Othello and Desdemona's relationship. Overall, the couples relationship started and ended in a bed.

Major Themes in Othello

1. Love and Passion.
In Othello, love is seen in a matter of ways depending on the character. To Desdemona and Othello, love is an intense emotion filled with passion. However, their love soon comes to staggering end as they fail to see that first there must be trust in order to maintain their love. For Iago, love is leverage. He falsely professes his love to Roderigo and the other characters in the play to gain their trust.

2. Appearance and Reality.

For Othello, he wants visual proof of Desdemona cheating on him with Cassio. To him, seeing is believing. Iago shows Othello false proof, which actually works, making Othello's jealousy grow more rapidly. Despite Othello's love for Desdemona, he can't help but believe Iago's lies.

3. Jealousy.

Jealousy is what seems to diminish Othello and cause him to lose his sanity. Iago is the one who introduced this emotion to Othello. Iago noticed how he tends to be insecure and overreact. Othello loses his sense of reason and justice once he murders wife, Desdemona. Once he kills her, he snaps back to reality. He sees his life in a new perspective and begins to speak calmly and rationally. Then, he proceeds to killing himself.

4. Prejudice.

Since the beginning, the characters have referred to Othello as "the moor" and other racists names. There is a prominent racial prejudice in the Venetian society. Othello is not aware of how deeply prejudice has affected him. Othello is insecure and lacks self esteem because of how he is seen by others in society. He always seems to second guess himself about Desdemona's love for him: "It cannot be true that she really loves me."

New Moon: Isabella Swan's Depression

The second book of the Twilight saga has to be one of the darkest period in Bella's. Stephanie Meyer (the author of the Twilight Saga) describes the new moon facing away from the Earth and is completely dark. Bella Swan is the moon and the Earth is Edward, the person who she fell inexplicably in love with and the person who she is very dependent on to maintain her self-esteem high. Without him she is a black void. She is completely dark and empty. There is no one else who completes her. Without Edward life is meaningless. During a period of several months, Bella is in a depression. She avoids any social interactions, she destroyed all her CDs, and she is locked in her room.

In the book, Edward believes that Bella will always be in danger as long as she is around him. Therefore, he decides to leave Bella and save her from future pain. However, there is one flaw in Edward's plan. He doesn't acknowledge Bella's longing love for Edward. He is causing her more pain leaving rather than staying and potentially putting her in danger as he believes. Both Bella and Edward have low self-esteem. Edward believes he is fundamentally evil and there is no hope for redemption. Bella thinks she doesn't deserve anyone and questions why someone like Edward would ever lay their eyes on her. Although, there is a silver lining. Bella gives herself a chance to move forward by interacting with Jacob Black, the werewolf. As time goes by and Bella’s relationship with Jacob grew stronger, Edward became a lesson rather than a necessity in Bella’s life. The second book encouraged fans to side with Jacob. This is where Team Jacob and Team Edward began.

Vampires, Werewolves, and a Young Girl

Did I mention that this is a 5 part series? Well, I will be writing about the Twilight saga for the next week. I have already started my 5 part Twilight series last week in my last post. However, I never acknowledged why I chose to write about Twilight. This post will describe why Twilight is such a prevalent story in my life.

Twilight was the first book series I read and finished as a child. The series introduced me to an intense romance, mythical creatures, strength, and resilience. It was the first book series that I grew attached to and became a fan of. In 2008, when the first film came out, my love for the Twilight saga grew stronger and eventually every one of my friends were talking about it. It was Romeo and Juliet but with a twist.

The films portrayed a forbidden love but with vampires and werewolves. It was a young girls fantasy. A lot of young girl wanted the praise and attention that Bella received from two incredibly gorgeous males, Edward and Jacob. Although I am no longer a preteen, I still carry that love for the films and the books. Rereading the books and watching the films will always remind me of my childhood. A time where I didn’t stress about every small thing. A time where curiosity ran through me like a stream. Those films and books will forever be my escape from reality.

Twilight: Fire and Powder

"These violent delights have violent ends And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, Which as they kiss, consume." Although, this quote is first mentioned in New Moon--the second book of the series--, I believe it can apply to all the books in the Twilight saga. But, what does a quote from Shakespeare have to do with Vampires and Werewolves? Let's first explain what it means in Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Friar Lawrence are waiting for Juliet to arrive. Friar Lawrence wisely advises Romeo to love moderately because if his loves becomes too intense it might fractures or perhaps blow up and destroy their relationship.
In Twilight, Edward is vampire who cannot resist Bella, a human, and her blood. It's like his own "brand of heroin", constantly calling him to Bella. Well that sounds like fire clashing into powder. It's dangerous. Perhaps, Stephanie Meyer chose to include this quote to foreshadow Bella and Edward's romance and a potential heartbreak. Their relationship is forbidden by Edward's family purely because a vampire cannot fall in love with a human. As Edward put it "the lamb fell in love with the lion." It doesn't work unless one person is inflicted pain (like the lamb). However, aren't fire and powder meant to be together? When fire and powder mix, they combust into a delightful array of lights, like fireworks. Edward and Bella's romance is disastrous yet profoundly beautiful. It's rare.

Othello Act I Scene II: Cyprus

The Duke is meeting with his senators about the Turkish invasion of Cyprus. One of the senators suggests that the Turks have changed their course to throw off the Venetians. This proves to be true, as a messenger informs them that the Turks are heading towards Cyprus.
Iago arrives with Othello and warns him that Brabanzio will force a divorce between Othello and Desdemona. Cassio and other officers bring Othello a message that he is wanted by the duke of Venice about a matter concerning Cyprus. Brabanzio and his men arrive to attack and subdue Othello. However, Othello calmly and authoritatively tells the men to put down their swords. The Duke is eager to hear Othello's side of the story. Othello explains how Brabantio would invite him over to his house, where he would share stories of his adventurous yet, rough past. That is how Desdemona fell in love with him. From hearing this, the Duke disregards what Brabantio has said. Then Desdemona enters and claims she chose to marry Othello. No one forced her to. It was out of her own free-will. The Duke decides that Othello must go to Cyprus to attack the Turks. Othello takes Desdemona with him. Iago and Roderigo are left alone. Roderigo believes he has no chance with Desdemona. Iago tells him he should "put but money in thy purse" instead of wasting his energy on Desdemona. Iago delivers his first soliloquy, where he admits that he hates Othello because he suspects that he might've slept with his wife. Throughout the first two scenes, Othello is always referred to as "the moor", "thick-lips", "a Barbary horse", and even "the devil." There is a lack of respect for Africans even though, Othello is an important authoritative figure.

Othello Act I Scene I: Visages

The play begins with Roderigo and Iago having a conversation about Othello. Roderigo has just learned that Othello is married to Desdemona. Iago wants to be Othello's lieutenant but was replaced by Cassio. Iago reassures Roderigo that he hates Othello because Othello has chosen Michael Cassio, a man with no experience on the battlefield, to be his lieutenant. In the meantime, Iago only pretends to serve Othello until he is given the opportunity to promote his own self-interest. The two men confront Brabanzio, Desdemona's father, and tell him his daughter has ran off with Othello. At first, he does not believe the men because he has already told Roderigo to stay away from his daughter. However, Iago convinces him by telling him that Desdemona and Othello are having sex. Once Barbanzio is convinced, Iago leaves Roderigo alone and goes to attend on Othello. Brabanzio leaves his house furious, knowing that his daughter is not there and states that she is being charmed by magic. From the beginning of the scene, Iago expressed how negative he is. As the audience, you are suppose to view Iago as the villain. In the first scene he has already caused conflict between Brabanzio and Othello. He puts on a mask on whenever he is around Othello. He is only pretending to serve Othello for his own personal benefit. Othello is not mentioned by him name. He is referred to as "the moor", "thick-lips", and "the barbary horse"--all names that signify that he is dark-skinned. That fact that Iago paints himself as the villain allows the audience to immediately sympathize with Othello.