Notes From Underground 1

In the first two chapters we are introduced to the underground man, we begin to learn how he thinks, what his views are on many subjects, his lifestyle and also where he lives. The Underground man is a very pessimistic, spiteful, and confused human being. He finds joy in bringing other’s spirits down because misery loves company. But then he takes it back and says he was lying about wanting to bring people down, but he was lying because of spite. He is 40 years old in the first chapter and goes on and on about his liver problems, but he is to spiteful to get it checked out. Though he does respect medicine and doctors, but spite keeps him from getting help. He acts egocentric in some cases but not in others, for example the underground man believes he is more self-conscious than the average person and he thinks he is very intelligent. But in others scenarios, he says he isn’t good enough to become an insect. I think that the poor conditions he is living in might have had a huge influence on his negativity outlook on life, he has submitted into the underground lifestyle. I find him annoying and unpleasant and I don’t enjoy reading what he is thinking.

The End of Othello

Now that I have finished the book and know the how it ends, I feel sorry for all the characters minus Iago, who is just a jerk. All of these tragic events occurred because of one twisted sick man that had to much jealousy and hatred towards Othello. All the characters were only victims of Iago’s master plan. Iago planted the idea of Desdemona cheating on him with other men, which drove Othello crazy and towards the scene where he killed his wife Desdemona and then eventually himself. Iago is able to manipulate him from when he arrives to Cyprus to pretty much the end of the book. I am frustrated at Othello for not being able to see through Iago and his plans. Why could he not trust his wife, rather than Iago, he married Desdemona and he should put her word before Iagos’. But I also felt bad for him because he could not see through Iago, though I do realize that Iago was pretty convincing.I feel the most sorrow towards Desdemona, who was another victim of Iago’s plan. Iago needed Desdemona to ruin Othello, though she had no part in choosing Iago as the ancient rather than the lieutenant. But she still had to die in order for Iago to receive his revenge and ruin Othello. She loved her husband and was killed because of it. I also feel sorry for Cassio, who also did not choose to be lieutenant, but yet Iago hated him because of it. He was one of the many victims of the story. But Cassio was lucky that he was able to survive the tragedy since majority of the characters did not. Iago is to blame for the deaths and destruction of so many in the story. It was his plan that he carried out, which consisted of ruining Othello and firing Cassio. He had so much determination and motivation to achieve his goals, only death would have stopped him. As I was readying Othello, I had so much hatred toward Iago, I was wishing that someone would call out his lies and kill him. I have never experienced a situation so severe but I have dealt with situations where I have seen someone manipulating someone else in order to get their way. It is upsetting to see and I wished there were not people like Iago out there trying to bring people down with their evil plans, but there is no way to escape people who are like that.

Othello

Iago has never liked Othello and has been looking for reasons to hate him and for motivation to hurt him. Iago found his first reason when he heard a rumor that Othello slept with his wife. His next reason to hurt Othello was when he was not chosen to be lieutenant of the Venetian army. He believes that he was most qualified for the job, but was instead placed as Othello’s ancient. Othello chooses Cassio for the job, though Cassio was previously an accountant and not as qualified for the job as others, especially Iago. Ever since Othello made that decision, Iago has been out for his revenge. Iago comes up with a plan to ruin Cassio’s honor in order for him to be fired from his position in the army. What he is planning to do is convince Othello that his wife, Desdemona, is having an affair with Cassio. Not only will Cassio most likely be fired and get into huge trouble when Othello hears this, but Othello will also be devastated and deeply hurt when he finds out that the love of his life is sleeping with some other man. I believe Iago’s plan will work because Iago is determined and obsessed with seeing the downfall of Cassio and Othello. He has the ability to convince the people around him to do his dirty work for him. He is able to lie and fool even the smartest people. He has earned Othello’s trust, which means that Othello will believe anything he says. He also has Rodrigo wrapped around his finger doing whatever he tells him. I believe that Iago has so much hate and anger towards Othello that he will not stop until his goal is achieved, which is why he will most likely succeed.

Luke v. Beowulf

Luke Skywalker and Beowulf have very different stories, but what they have in common is the way they stepped up to be the hero they were meant to be. Their backgrounds are very different from one another as well; Luke was an orphaned at a very young age and was raised by his uncle and aunt, while Beowulf was born into royalty. This might have been the reason they reacted differently when called to fulfill their destiny. For example, when Beowulf heard the stories about Grendel in Denmark, he travels to Denmark to fight him. Luke first said no to Obi-wun Kanobi when asked to join the rebels to fight the empire. It was death of his uncle and aunt changed his mind to continue with Obi-wun to the death star. Another difference between the two heroes is their personality; Beowulf was very confident and self-assured, which was necessary for him and the people. While Luke who was raised on a farm, did not have a large ego, he was more down to earth and an average joe than Beowulf. But though their personalities were different, they were one of the best in the world at what they do. Luke Skywalker is a great pilot, one of the best, while Beowulf was one of the best or the best soldier/fighter of his time. One thing that they did have in common was that they both achieved their goals and were able to save many people; they both stepped up to be the heroes they were meant to be.

Beowulf 2

Comment on Wiglaf’s character throughout the end of the book. Is he honorable or heroic like Beowulf or does he display an additional set of values?

Wiglaf showed many similar heroic characteristics as Beowulf towards the end of the book. Wiglaf showed bravery, honor, wisdom and strength, all characteristics Beowulf showed through out the poem. Wiglaf showed bravery and strength when he was the only one of Beowulf’s men that stayed to help Beowulf fight the dragon; the rest ran away in fear. But before he ran into the fight, he made a speech to his men telling them they are cowards if they go home instead of staying and fighting, which showed his honor towards his king. Beowulf was known to give a speech before a major battle, which shows their similarities. Though Wiglaf was not able to save Beowulf, he was there to help him defeat the dragon. He comforted Bewoulf as he was dying. Beowulf did not have to die alone since Wiglaf was there and he was able to die knowing that he has won the treasures for his people and a worthy man will be able to take care of the Geats. From what Wiglaf has shown, he could be a potential leader of the Geats and the troops.

Beowulf and Unferth

Unferth is the local hero of the Danes, who does not like Beowulf’s presence in his town because of jealousy. Unferth brings up the swimming race between Beowulf and Breca, which Beowulf lost. Unferth says to Beowulf how do you expect to win against Grendel if you have lost once before. No one has ever been able to defeat Grendel before, why do you believe you are going to be different. Beowulf being the better man, does not immediately come out and say no you are wrong. Instead he defends himself, saying that he lost because he other’s safety before his glory. He is a hero because he bought others before himself. As he was racing he came across sea monsters that he had to kill in order to protect the sailors. While Breca, simply swam on only thinking about himself to win the race. So Breca might have been the winner, but Beowulf was the better man. Then Beowulf throws in an insult hurting Unferth’s honor. He says that he should not have had to come, that Unferth being the local hero should have stepped up and taken care of Grendel, instead of being a coward and letting Grendel kill all these innocent people. Beowulf is a better man and a better hero than Unferth. Unferth let’s his jealousy take over and he tries to humiliate Beowulf, which ends up backfiring on him.

The Color Purple

The end of this letter, Celie has learned a lot about who God is and who he is not. Her friend, Shug , enlightened her that God is not a man, but everything that surrounds them, like the flowers and trees. At the end of the letter, Celie is struggling to picture God as anything other than a white male. But the image is stuck in her head and is harder to get rid of than she thought it would be because that is the only image of God she has ever had. But she keeps on trying to get rid of the image and will keep on working at it until she can pray to God without seeing him as a man.
The reason she was turned off by God was because she pictured him as a male and he did not answer any of her prays or helped her in her life. Shug pointed out that men ruin everything; they try to convince everyone that they are the universe and are everything. When people start to believe that they are truly everything, people start to think they are even God. She suggested that every time Celie thinks of God shaped as a man, to erase the image immediately, and keep doing that until you can think of God as everything but a man.