Raulitosdoritos

UC Davis '18; Soccer Fanatic (Bayern Munich); Movie and Literature Admirer;

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Does anyone know if we have to do each revision exercise for multiple paragraphs or just one? (Please say just for one)

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Writer's Choice

"A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new." - Albert Einstein

The one thing unique about English class is that there is no definite answer to almost every question. We initially learned about the concrete aspects of spelling and grammar but have now arrived to the more creative aspects of syntax and the ambiguous. We now analyze the implicit embedded within the obvious and though we can't be certain about our implications, it is the intentions and the confidence to make conclusions that count. In our introductory course of English in college, our community is expected to be bold in our deductions. For those that know the concrete and don't attempt to think outside the box technically don't make mistakes; but in another perspective, it is a mistake to fear to be wrong. Making guesses and risky deductions is an important aspect encouraged in our community; we may not always be right but via these interpretations often enough we can find other material or perspectives/observations to then build upon onward.

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Writing Genre Adaptation (Revised)

Our senses need and should not always require our deliberate efforts in order to observe our surroundings. As technologically advanced a human race we have become, within us lie natural instincts and senses eagerly anticipating to be embraced. They howl within us, like a caged coyote; and we intentionally keep them confined. Yet one process stands between our natural instinct and our dullness. We must let go of all distractions, be it phones, due dates, worries, etc., for around us, everywhere, beneath a table or on a branch, the wonders of nature call to us. “Hence forth and appreciate my beauty,” a river flowing down a ravine might cry, “Discover the secret powers of gravity responsible for this.” But instead we flip our textbook pages back and forth in boredom of the scenes of nature illustrated, caring minimally because we scratched the surface of geology as fourth graders.

So important this is for a writer, who acknowledges the wondrous motion of the wind lifting and twirling leaves across a meadow, or the sound birds in their v-shaped caravan migrating to a more enlightening region in the globe. In this exists what we live for: leisure. Via leisure a writer is able to embrace his creativity, see the world in a different perspective and be able to offer unique interpretations of our everyday living.

Let us set asides our worries and pay attention to the present. If we’re lost, we have rather been blessed with an adventure in finding our location. Let us put away our cellphones that we endlessly depend on to instill us in activity and rather inhale the traces of chalk left behind on the board, wondering who could have been the cause of such traces and what the message was it possessed. Let us restrain ourselves from “Googling” what to expect from a bite of a foreign dish or reviews of potential professors and trust our instinct that the surprise we await will not prove to be fatal.

Recalling on society’s large dependence on cellular phones and in general, technology, it is no surprise the appreciation of art has been gradually declining. Don’t get me wrong, my cell phone and computer are extremely helpful, but I’ve aimed at putting a limit on my usage of them, as I have recently become aware of the negative effects this dependency can have. This includes lack of interest for the environment others have worked hard on to make appealing, which many don't realize took careful thought and effort. In the classroom setting, it has also arrived to terms in which a student enters class, his head apparently heavy to lift, only to observe it glued to their phone screen. They proceed to sit down and continue their Instagram crusade, meanwhile a friendly student sits next to them, perhaps a potential close friend or even boy/girlfriend, yet the opportunity was never exploited as a result of focusing on their digital friend instead.

Numerous times I have seen in person, and on TV as well, people recording a most memorable event, for example, a concert or a speech, and I acknowledge their purpose. It is nice looking through old media and reliving the experience. But perhaps reliving isn’t the right word. To have lived through an experience requires our having been there, undoubtedly, but most importantly, it requires our attention: taking in every detail and enjoying every aspect with reasonably full and undivided attention. Many of the crowd were rather living the moment through their phone. The only thing shielding them from the real images and natural sensations that would have been perceptible were the ten-inch phones they deliberately placed between them.

I recall on a soccer match I attended last year, Mexico vs. Chile, the unrestrained excitement I felt as my favorite players ran onto the pitch. Eagerly, I pursued to record the occurrence, yet as I looked around, I took notice of the thousands glued to their phone screens. It amazed me how they had spent a good amount of money and time in order to witness the event, only to watch the match via their phones, when the live action stood before them. Consequently, I replaced my device and proceeded to enjoy the match by actually "living it."

All in all, writing requires that we pay attention to the little stuff and live in the moment. By having little regard of what is presently occurring in our surroundings, we are likewise depriving ourselves of life’s beauties. Only when we capture the moment and live in the present can the hunger of our leisure be satisfied, so feel free to become an animal and embrace your animal instincts. Take notice of a cat’s tail swaying, or of rain drops amounting one by one on the ground. This is the gold from which we perceive a far greater scope, for the creations that we can derive are truly limitless.

Goldberg, Natalie. "Be an Animal." Writing Down the Bones. 1986. Boston: Shambhala. pg 83. Print.

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Analyses Review

C1: Idea not yet grounded in evidence or analyses From Analyses 4: “It encourages readers to consider the larger idea of abuse of power by those in charge over those being governed (ruled), and on a more specific level, the dispositions of those in charge; how those with selfish intentions or careless regard for others manage to come to power...”

Revision: “It encourages readers to consider the larger idea of abuse of power by those in charge over those being governed. It could have been the author’s intentions to illustrate how much corruption exists in a legislative body that is dominantly white governing a diverse people. Yet though there is much corruption present in the story, I must acknowledge it would be a stretch to conclude that all Congressmen abuse power and only focus on their personal interests.”

While my analysis did have the support of examples within the story in which Congressmen abuse their power to force African-Americans to accept the trade, my claim that the government is full of corrupted officials is not grounded in evidence. There is much more evidence I could have brought to the table, but there is likewise much evidence of non-corrupt officials with integrity that would dismiss my claim. 

A2: Claim, speculation or interpretation presented as a fact or rule From Analyses 1: “Prospero desires that others, and particularly Miranda, acknowledge his abilities for the subliminal purpose that his self-esteem may be uplifted.”

Revision: “Perhaps Prospero’s assertive response, calling Miranda ignorant, suggests an insecurity of being doubted of his abilities.

This claim of Prospero’s disposition was a big assumption, especially after discussing in class how Prospero isn’t as self-centered or hungry of self-praise as I have stated here. My evidence was that Prospero had scolded Miranda for having worried about the safety of those on the sinking ship (of which he was in full control), but to claim it as fact was a fallacy.

R1: Redundancy From Analyses 2: “It is evident via the wolf’s reasoning that he was in fact not an evil creature after all, though everyone makes him out to be. Rather, he possessed virtues and sacrificed his well-being to teach the audience a lesson. While it is rash to say that Little Red Riding Hood was actually the evil one instead, it is undeniable that humans in general place labels of “cruel” and “monster” on creatures they may not understand. The wolf in this case showed more qualities of goodwill than humans, since he did not have to endure the pain he let himself be inflicted with. The humans rather brought themselves down to a lower level by enjoying the wolf’s sufferings, enacting the irony of the binary. What was most honorable, however, was the fact that the wolf remained modest in his actions. It wasn’t his intentions to be praised for his sacrifice but instead he did for personal satisfaction.”

Revision: “It is evident via the wolf’s reasoning that he was in fact not an evil creature after all, though everyone makes him out to be. Rather, he possessed virtues and sacrificed his well-being to teach the audience a lesson. The humans ironically were instead the ones on the lower level, evident by their enjoyment of the wolf’s sufferings.”

In this passage much of my context I felt was redundant on an overall scope. I shortened my passage so that it would be more concise and rid it of all the fluff that offers nothing significantly new.

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Literary Adaptation: The Space Traders

Summary: In the short story “The Space Traders,” by Derrick Bell, an alien race from an unknown galaxy arrives to the United States and offers to fix America’s growing problems of extreme pollution, lack of clean and reusable energy, and a huge, almost unpayable debt, for one thing in return: all persons classified as white or Caucasian are to be handed over to the “space traders,” where their fate is unknown. Having been given 16 days (until July 4), the government hosts various conventions to discuss such matters. Of course, since a majority of the population of the U.S. is white, the government publicly announces that they will not accept the aliens’ offer. This inevitably stirs debate among all citizens of all races; some Caucasians are willing to step up for their country; others argue that if it were another race there would be no debate and the dominantly-white government would force the group to be abducted; still others of different ethnicities become furious, claiming them to be “selfish cowards.” The day before “judgment day,” however, a final convention is held in which delegates of all racially identifiable groups cooperate to make a final decision. The Caucasian president of the United Sates proposes to have his “brothers” accept their fate in order to save America, but on the contrary, the “minorities” refuse to let such a brave volunteering that would send millions of humans to an unknown fate be executed, classifying it as a crime against humanity. Come decision day, the minorities uphold their stance and the government instead establishes several agencies to fix their problems.

Added Passage: “Sir,” interrupted the Hispanic delegate, “I am confident I speak on behalf of all representatives present, and even for the entire U.S. population, when I disapprove of your valiant offer to acquiesce to the ‘Space Traders’ proposition, and advocate that no person, no matter their race, gender, occupation or skin color, shall have to be obligated to commit to any operation as horrible and vile as the one we have been contemplating over day after day. The abduction of men and women, little boys and little girls, against their will to be taken to an unknown fate, is a crime against humanity, not only committed by the abductors but also by those who stood by and let the abduction be undertaken. We as human beings are responsible for the safety of each other, for the benefit of mankind, and to promote justness and equality for all, and this is a situation in which we must deploy both our integrity and our courage.” Everyone in the room looked around at each other. Representative Perez’ speech had inflicted in everyone a sense of duty they felt obligated to fulfill, and as the men and women looked at each other from left to right, their seemingly nodding heads acknowledged a mutual plead to refrain from letting their “white” brothers and sisters be exiled from their beloved planet. Race no longer had definition. They were all humans and nothing else.  

Analyses: In the original version of “The Space Traders,” the group chosen for the trade by the aliens are African-Americans and this particular decision by author Derrick Bell was important for his purpose. In the story we witness non-black (primarily white) Americans almost immediately agree to accept the offer and have their country “saved.” When it comes to debate, scarcely any white Americans step up for the designated minority instead of transcending their personal selfishness for the justness of mankind. Though anti-trade movements submerge, they are insufficient against a government that unrightfully changes its laws and censors protests that could potentially upset their ruling. The reason why the author chose African-Americans is depict the white man’s sense of superiority over the “lower” race. This is supported when in the story, Congressman acknowledge that America was created “for the white man,” as well as when they conclude that no more black people will result in less crime and lower unemployment rates. For my adaptation I chose to utilize Caucasians instead as the designed race to be abducted in order to portray that when it comes to sacrifice, Americans easily impose involuntary sacrifices on others while being reluctant to their part. In my version, the government immediately publicizes that they will not accept the offer, evident of their selfishness, while acknowledging that some people will label them as cowards. However, portraying Americans as selfish wasn’t my primary intention. Instead I wished to create a version in which it can be observed in the minorities that they possess the integrity that white Americans lacked in the first version. Instead of letting the designated give up their fate for the benefit of the country, the minorities refuse to let such an occurrence take place on behalf that it is a crime against humanity. Valiantly, they give up the possibility of having clean air, reusable energy and a clean slate in debt as they hold their stance that their Caucasian brothers and sisters shall not be abducted. Their problems are instead to be solved accordingly by their integrity, their will and the intelligence of mankind.

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Analyses 4: The Space Traders

In the story “The Space Traders,” written by Derrick Bell, a late 20th-century America in deep economic instability, anchored down by debt and bearing dangerously polluted airs, experiences a visit from extra-terrestrials in which a solution (gold, chemicals and clean nuclear energy) is proposed that could put an end to America’s troubles. In return, the country would have to agree to hand over all “black” citizens to the “Space Traders.” The protagonist of the story is Gleason Golightly, an African-American congressman and Professor “condemned as Uncle Tom by [his] people,” who contributed much toward the black cause despite lacking praise. Though attempting to remain being humble and modest, “he [also] had dreamed… [he would be able to] perform some heroic act to both save his people from great grief and gain for him the recognition and the love for which, despite his frequent denials, he knew he yearned.” His efforts first turned toward unifying the black population in an attempt to employ “reverse psychology” onto those condemning them be taken. Though unsuccessful, efforts didn’t stop there as a mass Jewish population then joined the campaign against not making the “deal,” partly for racial discrimination and partly because they knew they’d be next in line the white man’s list of scapegoats. While most of the story is concerned with the evils of exiling and handing over a racially identifiable group to the aliens, as well as the morality and integrity of mankind to do what is right, the story also captures another important aspect: the exploitation of power for the advancement of the interests of those who consider themselves “superior.” This corruption is evident in many occasions but most significantly when delegates chosen by state legislatures held a convention in Philadelphia to amend what would then be the 27th Amendment of the Constitution. There the delegates did not hesitate to ratify the amendment, which stated that whence a group is called by Congress to participate in a process for the benefit of a majority of the country, that group is obligated to do so. This also allowed tempering with other legislation, such as the Selective Service Act of 1918. Along with other incidents in which the government “appealed” to the needs of minorities in order to come to power and was able to pass legislation despite objection, such evidence suggests that other than discrimination, the author also intended to expose government abuse of power and the selfish pursuit of their own interests. This means that the government legislation body (and primarily those in power) is a corrupt system full of individuals who aren’t reluctant to make sacrifices on behalf of others for the sake of another group. It encourages readers to consider the larger idea of abuse of power by those in charge over those being governed (ruled), and on a more specific level, the dispositions of those in charge; how those with selfish intentions or careless regard for others manage to come to power, and even how those afraid fail to show their integrity and acquiesce to the public.

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Writer's Choice

Sean (Robin Williams): "So if I asked you about art, you'd probably give me the skinny on every art book ever written.... But I'll bet you can't tell me what it smells like in the Sistine Chapel... And I'd ask you about war and you'd probably throw some Shakespeare at me... But you've never looked at a woman and been totally vulnerable... You think I know the first thing about how hard your life has been, how you feel, who you are, because I read Oliver Twist?..."

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119217/quotes

This excerpt from the movie "Good Will Hunting" is one of the most meaningful speeches I've listened to. In case you haven't seen the movie, in simplest terms it follows the life of a self-taught genius named Will (played by Matt Damon) who grew up in a troubled south-Boston neighborhood and how he eventually learns the more meaningful aspects of life by confronting his troubled past. In the movie, Will utterly disrespects his psychiatrist Sean (Robin Williams), thoughtlessly criticizing his life by calling him a lonely man who could never get over his wife's death. A few days later, Sean swallows his pride and decides to have a talk with Will, in which he gives him the lengthy speech I shortened above. He admits that Will is a genius with much knowledge resulting from his having read many books and studying of endless topics, ranging from mathematics to science to American history. His point, however, is that despite having read and learned about so much, he knows nothing about life. He can't explain how the Sistine Chapel smells because he has never been there. He may know about war but he doesn't know what it's really like to witness his best friend die on his lap. He may have read many poems about love but he hasn't experienced true love himself. Sean is claiming that though texts can offer much knowledge, there is a difference in learning from experience that writing and statistics and facts just can't offer. 

This idea can be applied in our classroom because though we read and analyze many works, we must acknowledge that there are just some things that texts cannot capture or appeal to us (the converse is also true, ironically). Even the most descriptive and heartwarming narratives or the most meaningful poems cannot teach a person firsthand what it is like to love or to lose; experience is a whole other level. Having said this, however, it is still extremely beneficial to study and learn of such matters via the various mediums they are available in. Writing, film and music likewise also offer perspectives a person may not have realized or thought about beforehand, even with such experience. That is the art of learning: firsthand or vicariously. All in all, despite what we come to conclude in our analyses, we may truly never know of an author's intentions.

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Analyses 3

In the article, “Why Pele will always stand above Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and the world,” author Robbie Blakely argues how Brazilian superstar “Pele” should still be considered the best soccer player of all time despite arising stardom from the likes of current players Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. To support his claim, Blakely incorporates statistics such as Pele having scored 448 goals in his first 350 games, as well as having won three World Cups, an achievement unsurpassed by any player. He then acknowledges how it is difficult to judge who the best player of all time is since soccer has evolved over the forty years since Pele retired. To dismiss any opposition, Blakely argues that it is now easier to score goals with today’s modern balls, lighter and more unpredictable to goalkeepers, which implies it was more difficult scoring during Pele’s time period. This author, however, has also left out many statistics of today’s superstars.

I, on the other hand, believe Pele is extremely overrated and that there are several other players who deserve the title of “World’s Greatest” more than him. For one thing, I firmly believe the difficulty of soccer today is greater than it was fifty years ago. Teams are much more organized now, with players physically superior as a result of our technological advancements and discoveries. Jonathan Liew’s article, “Why Pele is Overrated,” pinpoints that despite having scored 1,283 goals during his career, “hundreds of Pele’s goals came in friendlies, against up-country teams or down-at-heel invitational sides. Pele scored against the very best, but he scored against the very worst too,” (Liew). Not only that, but even though Pele won three World Cups, he couldn’t have done so without his superstar teammates. Other players, such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, continue to shatter records, such as most goals scored in a calendar year, in a season, in La Liga history, etc., while also winning three or more Ballon d’Or trophies each. Pele has had numerous of his records broken, and a good portion of his goals were scored against ‘easier’ opposition.

These articles of course our opinionated, as is my argument against. It is impossible to state who or what is the best in a category because all claims and reasoning are based upon what a person sees as the most important, and this is different for all people. Such claims have to be argued in a juxtaposition among both views, and this particular case is even more difficult because several different eras are being discussed. In the end, it is a person’s ideology that answers the question when pertaining to any argument or claim.

Blakely, Robbie. “Why Pele will always stand above Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and the world.” Bleacher Report. 25 Feb 2014. Web. 5 Feb 2015.

Liew, Jonathan. “Why Pele is overrated.” Business Insider. 24 Jun 2014. Web. 5 Feb 2015.

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Notes 4

I've noticed in my writing I often tend to jump into implications and conclusions about a given text that people could easily dismiss because of my lack of support. It is not rare for me to use a short quote to establish the foundation of a claim, then jump into broad speculations that could easily raise questions of justification, as is evident in my Analyses 1 post. Perhaps I received an uncommon impression about Prospero and concluded that he is childlike when it comes to his self-esteem/securities, but regardless, all accusations are acceptable as long as it is accompanied by evidence. I could have employed more quotes with more depth in order to justify my analyses.

Other than lacking support, another hammering to my writing are my misinterpretations and my necessity for closer reading and profound thinking. When discussing Prospero's disposition, I disregarded the fact that what I know of his situation is what he chooses to share, and so his statements are subject to be bias. This allows information to be hid, therefore impairing the legitimacy of my findings. I also failed to look at the whole picture in a different perspective than the concrete, which resulted in a general, unmemorable analyses that seldom provided anything really unique.

My goal for all future writings and analyses is to better justify my claims with solid incontrovertible evidence, and most importantly, to think deeper so as to find more profound interpretations and messages deeply embedded within the context.

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Analyses Take 2

The Wolf's Postscript to 'Little Red Riding Hood'

Prewriting

Binary: Good Humans v. Evil Creatures: Little Red Riding Hood obviously was an innocent little girl, but she knew better than to talk to strangers during her walk to her Grandmother's cottage. On the other hand, the wolf no matter what will always be depicted as an evil animal whose sole ambitions are of eating others.

Complication: While wolves are known to be vicious and little girls innocent,in the story the wolf could have easily eaten Miss Little Red Riding Hood at any moment he pleased but instead resisted and let himself be hunted in order to teach the audience a lesson about not talking to strangers. His sacrifice of conforming to what the audience expected was a voluntary act of goodwill, yet he is seen as evil by everyone.

Evidence:

"Couldn't I have gobbled her up right there in the jungle? Why did I ask her where her grandma lived?... As if I couldn't ave swallowed her years before?" (9-17)

1) The wolf sarcastically states that if he really wanted to eat the little girl and her grandmother, he could have easily done so. 2) By not doing so, it proves his intentions were not of malice and that he refrained from his temptations for some other cause.

"And the huntsman; Was i sleeping while he snipped my thick black fur and filed me with garbage and stones? ... just when the tale should have come to an end."

1) The wolf implies that he was conscious when the huntsman filled him with sharp stones and therefore had to have let him do so. 2) Meanwhile the children laughed at his suffering, he dealt with the pain when he could have ended it, for the purpose that children see wolves and strangers as evil so as to later avoid them.

Claim: Instead of the wolf being the evil creature in this story, he was rather the smarter and stronger one, for he followed through what was expected of him to do in order to teach the lesson of avoiding strangers and animals. The humans instead were the rash ones by wrongfully depicting him as evil, meanwhile laughing at his suffering in amusement.

Analyses: It is evident via the wolf's reasoning that he was in fact not an evil creature after all, though everyone makes him out to be. Rather, he possessed virtues and sacrificed his well being to teach the audience a lesson. While it is rash to say that Little Red Riding Hood was actually the evil one instead, it is undeniable that humans in general place labels of "cruel" and "monster" on creatures they may not understand. The wolf in this case showed more qualities of goodwill than humans, since he did not have to endure the pain he let himself be inflicted with. The humans rather brought themselves down to a lower level by enjoying the wolf's sufferings, enacting the irony of the binary. What was most honorable, however, was the fact that the wolf remained modest in his actions. It wasn't his intentions to be praised for his sacrifice but instead he did for personal satisfaction.

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Notes 3

Theme: Master and Servant; Ruler and Minion

Summary: The idea of a ruler, master, leader or simply a being with power over another being is omnipresent in this story. From the first scene in which Sebastian and Antonio ridicule a boatswain they deem as lower, to Miranda constantly needing her father's approval, to Prospero's control over Ariel and Caliban, the theme of master and servant is an important aspect that provides the backbone to the conflict of Prospero's dethroning and vow for vengeance. It is because of this thirst for power did Antonio steal the crown from his own brother Prospero before exiling him from Milan, likewise did Sebastian consider overthrowing his brother Alonso to be the ruler of Naples. This sense of superiority, however, did not only apply to rulers but to those seeking power as well, as can be observed via the excitement that Stephano and Trinculo, both servants to Alonso, experienced at the possibility of ruling the island in which the story takes place, meanwhile dehumanizing poor Caliban.

SparkNotes Excerpt: In the Themes, Motifs and Symbols section of Sparknotes, my selected them of ruling and power is discussed in similar terms. When Caliban tells Stephano that only slaying the current king of the island separates him from the throne, Stephano becomes excited at the idea of for once being a ruler himself. This feeling is also present in Trinculo, knowing he will become Stephano's right-hand man in the process. However, SparkNotes discusses this desire to be found in Gonzalo as well, which I did not take much notice of, but is evident via Gonzalo's visions of a utopian society established on the island (Sparknotes; 'Themes, Motifs and Symbols').

Comparison: Stephano and Trinculo ruling the islands for themselves was what I had most in common with Sparknotes, While we both stated of the omnipresence of ruler and ruled, this idea is most discussable when applied to Stephano and Trinculo because they were only servants at the start of the story but soon became eaten with the idea of ruling the island themselves. On the contrary, Gonzalo and Sycorax were also discussed on Sparknotes as having their possibilities uncapped as well. I did, however, discuss of Antonio's and Sebastian's selfish intentions to dethrone others of their crowns and of Caliban's poor treatment from Stephano and Trinculo, which goes to show how the desire for power and minions can cause individuals to make unrighteous actions.

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Analyses 1

From "The Tempest"

Quotation: "...my daughter, who Art ignorant of what thou art, naught knowing Of whence I am, nor that I am more better Than Prospero, master of a full poor cell..."

Mini Summary of Immediate Context: Prospero's daughter Miranda is saddened upon witnessing a short distance offshore the sinking of the Alonso's ship. The weather being the cause of the unfortunate event, she implies how she wishes she had the power to prevent the accident, but Prospero assures her no one was harmed. When asked how he is certain of that, he retorts by calling her ignorant, for she should know of his incredible capability.

Mini Summary of Broader Context: Just before this scene, aboard the ship prior to the sinking the audience witnesses a boatswain attempting to save the ship from sinking to the best of his abilities. Alonso, Antonio, Sebastian and Gonzalo receive a bad impression from the boatswain since he does not address them with regard to their status as dukes and kings, for his only focus is on saving the ship. Sebastian and Gonzalo ignorantly declare they do not fear drowning.

Focal Phrase: "naught knowing Of whence I am"

Strand of Evidence for Focal Word: "No harm. I have done nothing but in care of thee, Of thee, my dear one, thee, my daughter, who Art ignorant of what thou art, naught knowing Of whence I am, nor that I am more better than Prospero, master of his full poor cell, And thy no greater father." (pg. 13; lines 18-24; Prospero to Miranda). "I have with such provision in my art, So safely ordered that there is no soul - No, not so much perdition as an hair," (pg. 15; lines 35-37; Prospero to Miranda)

Binaries:

Strong vs Weak

Acknowledgment vs Ignorance

Intact vs Wreck

Possible Implications of Quote:

1: Prospero desires that others, and particularly Miranda, acknowledge his abilities for the subliminal purpose that his self-esteem may be uplifted.

2: Having been secluded to the island, Prospero feels his past abilities were insufficient to prevent his banning, and has aimed at improving himself. His old self is a recollection he wishes to never have to recall.

Possible Implications of Phrase:

1: Prospero has a strong ego and sense of worth for himself. He wishes to be strong and forbids showing weakness.

2: Since Miranda had to be reminded of who his father is, it can suggest that failing to acknowledge one's worth are characteristics of an ignorant person to condemn.

Additional Insight: "Twelve year since, Miranda, twelve year since, Thy father was the Duke of Milan and A prince of power... [to my brother Antonio I put] to manage my state... [and] in my false brother Awaked an evil nature... [and] one midnight [Antonio opened] the gates of Milan, and i' th' dead of darkness The ministers for th' purpose hurried thence Me and thy crying self." (pg. 17-21; lines 66-68, 87-88, 112-113, 152-156; Prospero to Miranda.) In this conversation, Prospero explains to his daughter how his brother stole from him his position as Duke of Milan and exiled him to the island which they now inhabit. This is the source for Prospero's vow to avenge himself against them.

Analyses: Prospero has every reason for desiring revenge among those who betrayed him. He entrusted in his brother the privilege of managing the state, but in return he was wrongfully exiled by his own blood (with the aid of the King of Naples), to live a life of misery. This consequently has led to Prospero's desire for praise and acknowledgment of his power, for in these "compliments" he finds his spirits uplifted. He even states in third person that the old Prospero is gone and that his new and improved self is ever-more powerful and competent than before. This correspondence suggests the mental diminution he has experienced, and how the remembrance of his past self, who was unable to fend off his conspirators from isolating him, is like a parasite to his dignity. All in all, I can't convict Prospero for his actions; they have been a direct result of an evil inflicted on him by men who speak of honor and greatness but certainly withhold the wrong ideal in their ill-burdened mind.

Reflection: Analyzing this section of "The Tempest," I found it challenging to view the context through a different scope rather than acquiescing to the common interpretation of vengeance. Prospero is a more complicated character, while the "great" leaders Antonio and Alonso ignorantly attain the most honorable position a citizen can behold. As for my writing, I found myself sounding redundant on several occasions and had to reorganize my thoughts so that my Analyses wasn't mediocre work, which I hope isn't perceivable as.

[batthemlasheslovelymanda-blog]

In the Letter XXIX in Goethe note (appendix C), the narrator is about to commit suicide and explains that it is not weakness but an illness of the mind that drives him. He believes that no matter how educated someone is, the “passions” of human nature can be as overwhelming and as unstoppable as...

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This passage focuses on the power that the intangible mind can have over physical aspects, which is important in Frankenstein. Despite being well and healthy, a person dealing with adversity can reason whether life is worth suffering in hopes of finding joy again or whether to end their misery; likewise, a person physically deprived and/or incapable may be strong at mind and continue to pursue a goal and/or a desire to live. Frankenstein found himself in these situations numerous times, and particularly in the end of the novel (as well as when he was creating his beings) his ambitious conscience kept him going. It inevitably became observable just how mentally-ill Victor turned out to be, as he no longer clicked with reality but rather focused on how rewarding his intentions would come out to be rather than on the fact of his capability.

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For my editorial material, I decided to use Appendix D: 2. The Edinburgh Magazine. This review mentions people’s desire for adventure and outrageous improbability, resulting in their fascination with the book. However, Shelley was able to incorporate realistic aspects into this wild fantasy by...

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Likewise, what constantly stood out for me was the skillful writing Shelley possesses and her power to instill and develop fascinating courses of action unfortunately unattainable in reality (at least as of yet). In order to have done this, the writer brilliantly complemented fantasy with the realistic events that we, the audience, experience in life, such as adversity, marriage and labor.

I agree, however, that perhaps Shelley was deemed as having an "unpracticed hand" on account of having in immense amount of plot unfold in insufficiently short time spans. This consequently made leisure necessary to digest the reading scarce. As for the religious affiliations with the novel, my liberal point of views respect Shelley's thoughts but I don't condemn the popular conservative thinking then for disapproving her references to Victor as a "Creator."

[cameronvossoughi-deactivated201]

Notes 2 Revised

For the revised version of the second set of Notes, I have chosen Darwin The Economy of Vegetation from Appendix B. This is about the creation of the monster in Frankenstein. The writer describes that scientifically none of the science in the novel was accurate and that such a...

[raulitosdoritos]

Having left out and kept secret the actual science involved in creating life that Frankenstein had discovered, it supports the idea that Mary Shelley indeed rather wrote the work to emphasize the idea of a man ambitious to become a great, memorable contributor to science, but  later results in his dehumanizing God complex.

The first audience of the novel were blind to the purpose author's work because such a tale of realistic horror had been unheard of until then, and as a result, the author was rather condemned for expanding the bounds of human thought with such terror. It was also considered a huge disrespect within a conservative population to discuss thoughts in which God was not the only Almighty power.

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Notes 2; Jan 14

From 'Appendix D: Reviews of Frankenstein' I chose the second, third and fourth reviews to read.

The second review, written by 'The Edinburgh Magazine,' discusses and praises Shelley's capacity for creating unbounded imaginative stories, yet continues on only to then condemn the author's work on account that it was "somewhat too long, grave and laborious," executed imperfectly by "unpracticed hands." However, the writer did call into notice a good point. Never did I while reading think about the religious affiliations and disapproval this story had sparked upon the references to Frankenstein as the "Creator" of a live being. Certainly, followers of a religion in which God is the only one who shall be referred to as the "Creator" or "the Man Almighty" vetoed such a work, and in my view, they had every reason to.

The third review, written by John Wilson Croker, is harsher and more ignorant. Bluntly, and with reckless regard for his own integrity, he states: "The dreams of insanity are embodied in the strong and striking language of the insane, and the author, notwithstanding the rationality of his preface, often leave us in doubt whether he is not as mad as his hero." Despite his ill-intentions and lack of respect for the author, I find the writer professional in one aspect. After declaring the work as nonsense and unable to mend the mood of the readers, he cannot help but praise the author's powers in both conception and writing, even stating the context of the work as "clothed in language highly terrific."

Returning to the attacks of the reviewers, is it right for Shelley to be condemned for simply exploring and expanding the boundaries of a what a person can and has perceived? Her efforts to achieve an original work delineating how unrighteous and undeserved banishment, condemning, and inflicted harm can transmogrify even the most affectionate, intelligent, honest and caring beings into the very wicked and ill-tended creatures they were first wrongfully perceived as. Every crime and hateful action that Frankenstein's creature would later commit, and his hunger for inflicting misery upon his creator, was not a result of an unreasonable evil omnipresent in the creature's disposition. It could have only been caused by imposing continuous harm and neglect on the so-called "wretch."

The third review, by P.B. Shelley coincides more hand in hand with my opinions in the sense that it ignores the imperfections in the author's technique and/or story, and rather admires the originality of the story and the imbedded messages that we must implicitly derive. As the reviewer states, the pathos is irresistible and deep, and the main message illustrated by the complex storyline is simple: "Treat a person ill, and he will become wicked." It is for this ingenuity that Mary Shelley should rather be remembered for.

[raulitosdoritos]

Adaptation to "Be an Animal"; Week 2

Our senses need and should not always require our deliberate efforts in order to observe our surroundings. As technologically advanced a human race we have become, within us lie natural instincts and senses eagerly anticipating to be embraced, the only requirement: we let go of all distractions, be it phones, due dates, worries, etc., for around us, everywhere, beneath a table or on a branch, the wonders of nature call to us. "Hence forth and appreciate my beauty," a river flowing down a ravine might cry, "Discover the secret powers of gravity responsible for this."

So important this is for a writer, who acknowledges the wondrous motion of the wind lifting and twirling leaves across a meadow, or the sound birds in their v-shaped caravan migrating to a more enlightening region in the globe. In this exists what we live for: leisure.

Let us set asides our worries and pay attention to the present. If we're lost, we have rather been blessed with an adventure in finding our target location. Let us put away our cellphones that we endlessly depend on to instill us in activity and rather inhale the traces of chalk left behind on the board, wondering who could have been the cause of such traces and what the message was it possessed. Let us restrain ourselves from "Googling" what to expect from a bite of a foreign dish and trust our instinct that the surprise we await will not prove to be fatal.

Only when we capture the moment and live in the present can the hunger of our leisure be satisfied, so feel free to become an animal and embrace your animal instincts. Take notice of a cat's tail swaying, or of rain drops amounting one by one on the ground. This is the gold from which we perceive a far greater scope, for the creations that we can derive are truly limitless.

Reflection

Upon reading the chapter I immediately was reminded of society's large dependence on cellular phones and technology. Don't get me wrong, my cell phone and computer are extremely helpful, but I've aimed at putting a limit on my usage of them, as I have recently become aware of the negative effects this dependency can have.

Numerous times I have seen in person, and on TV as well, people recording a most memorable event, for example, a concert or a speech, and I acknowledge their purpose. It is nice looking through old media and reliving the experience. But perhaps reliving isn't the right word. To have lived through an experience requires our having been there, undoubtedly, but most importantly, it requires our attention: taking in every detail and enjoying every aspect with reasonably full and undivided attention. Many of the crowd were rather living the moment through their phone, their ten-inch screens blocking the real images and sensations that would have been perceptible had they put their phones away.

I recall on a soccer match I attended last year, Mexico vs. Chile, the unrestrained excitement I felt as my favorite players ran onto the pitch. Eagerly, I pursued to record such occurrence, yet as I looked around, I took notice of the thousands glued to their phone screens recording. It amazed me how they had spent a good amount of money and time in order to witness the event, only to watch the match via their phones when the live action stood before them. Consequently, I replaced my device and proceeded to enjoy the match by actually living it.

All in all, writing requires that we pay attention to the little stuff and live in the moment. By having little regard of what is presently occurring in our surroundings, we are likewise depriving ourselves of life's beauties.