To A Butterfly

The Other Narratives

Sat, 12 May 2012 19:49:25 -0400

My job made it easy to complete this week’s wildcard. Every day I listen to the stories people tell, about their struggles and their victories. I work as a Pharmacy Technician and have heard countless stories of people overcoming illnesses and also falling victim to terminal conditions.

This week was a continuation of my constant goal of connecting with these people. I have learned that every person can teach you something, and every person is unique. Sometimes it’s not even about them discussing their sickness, but just their lives.

Today, a man told me about his struggle with his son going away to college. At first he tried to visit him every weekend at his university. However he slowly realized that they would still be close, but he had to let his son grow up on his own into an adult. Little things like that make my day: connecting with people, hearing them, and not just seeing them as another name on a prescription label.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990DEEDF1331F933A25750C0A9609C8B63

Sat, 12 May 2012 19:40:31 -0400

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990DEEDF1331F933A25750C0A9609C8B63:

Here’s a link to a review of Shakespeare Behind Bars by The New York Times. I always love reading how critics and journalists view these movies too.

The Greatest Gift: "Indulgence"

Wed, 09 May 2012 15:55:43 -0400

“All of us in some way need to be redeemed of something that we’ve done.” What do you need to be redeemed of? Everyone makes mistakes. Society often takes it upon them to decide which faults are worse, and what deserves redemption. Shakespeare Behind Bars looked into the soul of criminals that society has decided beyond redemption however that does not make them desire it any less.

What stands out is the depth that these inmates display. Perhaps it is because of all the extra time they have, but they seem to have pondered this idea of forgiveness a lot. Many of them also seem to understand what made them first perform the crimes that put them in jail. Sammie, in his attempt to regain control and power, strangled the woman who he blamed for his unhappiness. Hal recognized it was the hatred of his mother that led him to kill his wife who he felt resembled her. All of this led me to wonder: was it Shakespeare that made them this meditative or was it a predisposition in them that then also drew them to Shakespeare.

Out of about 1100 prisoners, only 15 took part in this play. Surely this is not the most popular club, and it must take a special person to feel comfortable stepping forward to act in this play. One can only imagine some of the taunting that must have occurred after inmates left rehearsal. This is why it seems there must be an insightful part within each of these men that then drew them to Shakespeare.

As far as the play featured, The Tempest captures the idea and struggle of forgiveness. Prospero, the main character, finds that he must forgive those who first outcast him from society. The inmates seem to reach a point in their reflections where they realize they need to forgive themselves; they are the ones who committed the crimes against their values, morals, and human nature. It shows an interesting struggle not between people but within a person. This movie showed the effect Shakespeare can have on all people, and even illustrated why many people are drawn towards Shakespeare and his writings. “What really speaks to me is the idea that that indulgence is actually one of the most remarkable things in the world: to redeem someone, to set them free of what they’ve done.”

Can I just say, I think everyone is doing a great job with titling their ruminations!! They all seem...

Sat, 05 May 2012 11:42:55 -0400

Can I just say, I think everyone is doing a great job with titling their ruminations!! They all seem so interesting!

I really enjoy this picture, it shows the struggle with...

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 19:18:05 -0400

I really enjoy this picture, it shows the struggle with individualism within Fight Club and about being the person you would like to be.

"It’s only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do anything."

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:03:57 -0400

“It’s only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do anything.”

- Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club (via lgoffxo)

Utopia?

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 20:17:50 -0400

Utopia?:

This link goes to someone’s blog that discusses different kinds of Utopia. I think that Sir Thomas More’s version falls into more than just one of these categories.

The Wasteful British

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:15:30 -0400

“Agriculture is the one occupation at which everyone works, men and women alike, with no exceptions,” (550). This opening statement for the section regarding “Their Occupations” sets the standard. There is an obvious emphasis on being ecological. In the section “The Travels of the Utopians” they describe the switch from vellum to paper, which was described in the Weekly Blog as taking place in society at the time as well. This emphasis on being environmental reflected the simultaneous attention it was receiving in British society.

However being ecological did not just present itself in directly interacting with nature. Not only does everyone take part in agriculture but they also share the same amount of workload. There are six hours of work a day, during which everyone must participate. They argue that because everyone takes part in the labor time is spent more efficiently and more work gets done. A contrast is made to other countries where this does not occur because of specific groups of people: the rich “who are commonly called gentlemen and nobility,” “that mob of swaggering bullies,” and the “lusty beggars” (552). These terms reflect the narrator’s attitude of such people in society, specifically British society. It can be taken a step further to say that the narrator looks down on the British because such people as this exist and do nothing to contribute but usurp the goods provided by hard-workers.

One final manner in which they are also efficient is the maintenance of buildings. Regular work is done to repair damage and also to prevent it. Such upkeep makes it so less work is done overall and less money is spent. Overall this makes sense and is an ideal practice. Once again, however, a comparison is made to another society (British) in which a “thriftless heir” lets a house fall into ruin, or another man may want a better house and thereby lets it fall to ruin before rebuilding a new one for just as much money. Again, a direct attack seems to be forming against British society. These depictions are obviously unfavorable and portray these people as wasteful.

All in all, it seems that More, through comparisons to “another country”, is trying to depict the importance of the environment in society and the importance of not being wasteful.

New York Tribune - 1842

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 21:18:31 -0400

New York Tribune - 1842:

After the reading for this week I wanted to take time to look through some older newspapers from our own country. I found a website that has pdf’s of papers all the way back to 1836. Here is a link to the New York Tribune from April 22, 1842.

I hope the actual sheets of paper they were printed on were large because that font seems very tiny!!

Technology-Dependent

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 20:43:07 -0400

Of course the same week we are supposed to write a letter, I drop my iPhone in water. The past few days I have been functioning without the ability to call, text, tweet, fb, or email from the comfort of my cell phone. Writing a letter really took me back in the past, since it was one of the forms of communication available to me this week.

Interestingly enough, I have enjoyed these few days without having my cell phone. I’ve felt a sense of freedom. Also, a letter allows so much more expression than a text message (even if now you can text emoticons). It doesn’t have to be within 160 characters, you can italicize, bold, underline, double underline! It is so much more expressive. Sometimes I think we all need that break from technology, and we need to get back in touch with not having to be completely in touch. (If that makes any sense at all)

mwhitehouse: Funny… definitely shows different perspectives…...

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 22:02:49 -0400

mwhitehouse:

Funny… definitely shows different perspectives… natives vs settlers/explorers

This seems all too fitting for this week, given the numerous...

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:51:11 -0400

This seems all too fitting for this week, given the numerous stories about voyages to Virginia.

Self-Proclaimed Gods

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:30:41 -0400

“Our general … liberally bestowed on them necessary things to cover their nakedness, whereupon they supposed us to be gods,” (932). A common theme throughout the stories of voyaging and discovery is the interaction with natives. Often they are portrayed as barbaric and less civilized. Their customs are misunderstood and seen as primal. As told in the stories, the travelers are viewed as Gods by the natives however it is interesting to consider whether this were the case. Only the experience of the travelers is presented, and it leaves one to desire the other side. Did the natives really look to people such as Francis Drake as Gods or did Drake see himself as a God in relation to these people. Did he take on the responsibility of instructing and educating them without being asked? Did he fail to also learn from them?

The travelers witnessed as the women “tormented themselves” by “tearing their flesh from their cheeks” (933) in a ritualistic sacrifice. Instead of allowing the women to perform this ritual, the travelers interrupted them to read scripture. Despite the fact that the natives speak a different language and were unlikely to comprehend what they were saying, the travelers took it upon themselves to “educate” them. The women had presented an opportunity for the travelers to experience a custom of their culture, to observe and learn, but the travelers felt a need to “help” them instead.

Later, this same ritual is described “with lamentable weeping, scratching, and tearing the flesh from their faces” (934). This is the second time the word “lamentable” is used to describe this ritual. It is interesting word choice, and shows the obvious bias by the travelers. During this occurrence the travelers physically restrain the natives from clawing at their faces and provide them with lotions and ointments to “cure their diseases.” It seems that the travelers took it upon themselves to correct the actions of the natives, instead of observing. Both times they do not describe how the ritual is carried out; there is a greater focus on how the travelers help the natives as opposed to describing the ritual. This leads to the question: who thought the travelers were God? Was it the natives or did the travelers designate themselves as superior beings. Either way it greatly reflects the attitude the British had towards themselves and natives to the areas they traveled.

Best resource for Paradise Lost.

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 21:16:41 -0400

Best resource for Paradise Lost.

Photo

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 21:15:28 -0400

Ruminating on Ruminations

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 21:15:13 -0400

Throughout the first part of this semester I truly enjoyed all the readings. Being able to ruminate and see other people’s interpretations of these classic readings helped me see them in new light. Also interesting, John Donne is now one of my favorite poets…I’m kind of obsessed.

The battle of Simon and Garfunkel versus John Donne. Is no man...

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 23:53:09 -0400

The battle of Simon and Garfunkel versus John Donne. Is no man an island or is every man an island?

Is Death Really A Loss?

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 16:19:13 -0400

The death of a loved one is often associated with mixed emotions: sadness, anger, longing, desperation, and sometimes peace. In Holy Sonnet XVII, Donne discusses the recent death of his wife. He struggles with these mixed emotions, especially coming from a religious background. Initially he seems happy to release her to God, feeling that she is in her rightful place. He is also happy she has passed because now he can focus “wholly on heavenly things.” Primarily he attempts to turn this sad event into something that is good, appealing to his ultimate love for God “I have found thee, and thou my thirst hast fed.” However this line is preceded by “but” and followed with “A holy thirsty dropsy melts me yet.”

What is most interesting in this is, despite Donne being an extremely devout Catholic, he still battles with missing his late wife. He tells himself that God need be his only focus, yet still embodies this sense of longing. Even though he has this urge to desire only God, he cannot completely repress these negative emotions that are associated with death. By the end of the sonnet he comes back to his initial satisfaction with God, offering up his wife as being God’s anyways.

Whether Donne actually comes to peace with the passing of his wife, or merely convinces himself he has come to peace with it, one cannot be sure. However it addresses the emotions that many people struggle with. Donne, in other poems, seeks to express a conquering over death via a resignation to it. Especially in Holy Sonnet X, he strives to defeat death though his belief in an afterlife. With the hope of an afterlife he feels that allowing death to happen is its ultimate downfall, it no longer holds power. However, in this sonnet, he was unable to maintain the same attitude. Despite his reliance on religion and turning to God, he still felt as though death (and God) had stolen something from him. In this sonnet, he comprehends the same confusing emotions that everyone experiences through death, thereby humanizing and portraying a more vulnerable attitude.

Constituent Structure

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 08:06:59 -0500

Constituent Structure:

I stumbled upon this website that describes the breakdown of Shakespeare’s sonnets in addition to a lot of other forms of writing. I found it interesting that it claimed these sonnets are written in such a way so that all competent readers will break them down for analyzing in the same way, looking at the pairings of lines. (Of course people will then ascertain different meanings from the sonnets.)

Blur

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 22:53:50 -0500

joshuasinkler:

I wrote a sonnet for my other Brit Lit class so I figured why not post it up for everyones reading pleasure. The premise was to talk about Newark so I gave it a bit of a comedic spin. I don’t know if I quite got the syllable count down, but trust me, I was clapping like a seal making sure I was close enough. (Plus it’s 1am cut me some slack)

Blur

The lines have blurred, for which I blame the drink;

For consequence I choose to not account for;

The classes missed, on Main Street I pause and think;

The voice inside says fret not, and drink more

From Kates to Kildaires, to Grottos, kids run

With sirens flashing, engines in the midst

Still contemplating tomorrow, faith in sunlight

And gasp, for with times winding steps I’ve found

Classes missed, the alarm fallen unheard

Thy slumber wouldn’t be stirred by lions roar

Memories flash, the spinning bathroom floor;

How the school changes upon your twenty-first,

Public safety is thy chariot and steed

When asked of last night, `tis was a blur indeed.