Othello Journal 6

    I think Desdemona has a very mild personality.  She wants to please people but at the same time stands up for what she believes in, in Cassio's case.  Her main desire is to do anything that will benefit Othello which makes the accusations against her ironic, because cheating is the last thing she would do.  Desdemona is very kind and forgiving, and I think she only sees the good in people, such as her husband.  Her motivation for acting the way she does is that she loves Othello.

Othello Journal 5

    One technique used a lot in Othello is foreshadowing.  It keeps the play moving along and gives you more to think about and question.  I think foreshadowing makes you look at the possibilities for the future events in the book and stops you from just waiting to read and be told what happens.  Secondly, the word choice and sentence structure obviously plays a big part in the play.  Although this may have been how they spoke back then, when we read it now it gives the reader a lot more to think about.  If you translate the text to modern day English you already have a deeper understanding of the content of the story.  I feel like the play on words is used very frequently which gives much of what the characters say multiple meanings.  Also, irony is used, especially dramatic irony.  With all the different scenes, often times the reader knows something that the characters don't which causes suspense to see how the events are going to play out.  This keeps the play interesting.

Comment:
winden said...

I agree with the connection you made to Lord of the Flies and how the animals show humans' connection to feral instincts. It's a really good point.

December 14, 2010 9:25 PM

Othello Journal 4

OTHELLO

"Ay, let her rot and perish and be damned tonight, for she shall not live. No, my heart is turned to stone. I strike it and it hurts my hand. Oh, the world hath not a sweeter creature, she might lie by an emperor’s side and command him tasks" (4.1.184-88).

 

    Shakespeare uses Othello's internal conflict to foreshadow future events in the play.  The tone is very powerful when he says "rot," "perish," "damned," "stone," "sweeter creature," and "emperor's."  Between the third and fourth sentence there is a shift in Othello's tone in which he changes from anger to thinking about how sweet of a person he thought Desdemona was.  In this scene he mentions how she won't live much longer.  This is completely contrasted from earlier in the play when he spoke with Iago about needing proof after suspicion, and then he would still keep his emotions in check.  Othello has become vengeful and frightening which shows how jealousy can make a person become violent and volatile.  He uses a metaphor when Othello says "my heart is turned to stone," which represents the transformation, and the image is expanded upon when Othellos says he can "strike it and it hurts [his] hand."  The contrast in this passage serves as a short reminder of how calm and collected Othello used to be, and how much he loved his wife.  He goes to say how sweet Desdemona is and that alone is powerful enough to allow her to control another person.

 

Comment:

 

winden said...

I agree! A person's actions speak louder than words. This also shows how well Iago's plan is working, because the lies Iago has told Othello are not only changing Othello's thoughts but his actions as well. He is a completely different person.

December 13, 2010 7:14 PM

Othello Journal 4

Othello:
"This fellow's of exceeding honesty, and knows all qualities, with a learned spirit, of human dealings" (3.3.274-76).
"Oh, that the slave had forty thousand lives!  One is too poor, too weak for my revenge" (3.3.457-8).
     The actor I would pick for Othello would be tall and strong with a good smile and a happy face.  This would show his authority and power as well as his social side and his trust for others.  However, halfway through, the actor must be able to make a transformation into an extremely jealous, angry man that won't let anyone get in his way.

Iago:
"I do hate him as I do hell pains" (1.1.158).
"For Michael Cassio, I dare be sworn I think that he is honest" (3.3.137-8).
     The actor for Iago would be a little shorter and very thin and pale with longer black hair.  He would have to be sneaky and smooth in order to pull off Iago's character.  Iago is great at lying, pretending to be someone completely different than he is, and hiding his strong feelings.  He is able to fool everyone else around him.

Desdemona:
"If I do vow a friendship I'll perform it to the last article.  My lord shall never rest" (3.3.21-22).
"Believe me, I had rather have lost my purse full of crusadoes; and but my noble Moor is true of mind and made of no such baseness as jealous creatures are, it were enough to put him to ill thinking" (3.4.25-29).
    Desdemona would be fair-skinned and have easily read emotions.  The actress would have to act passionately and show Desdemona's strong feelings for justice.  She is very loyal to her friends and people she believes in.  When she starts to be accused and have Othello turn against her, I assume she would act desperate and very hurt and confused by the falseness of the accusations.

Emilia:
"What he will do with it heaven knows, not I; I nothing but to please his fantasy" (3.3.313-15).
"If it be not for somce purpose of import, give't me again.  Poor lady, she'll run mad when she shall lack it" (3.3.332-34).
    Emilia only wants to please her husband, Iago, but she is also kind and dutiful and doesn't want to do anyone any harm.  I think she is unaware of Iago's true character and feelings and would be greatly horrified by it all.  Emilia is innocent and unobserving.  I see the actress being plain and maybe shorter and more plump.  She would have to be unaware of all the scheming around her. 

Comment:
I agree that the actress you picked looks like she could be desperate and would do anything for Iago. However, I think another side to Emilia is that she is unsuspecting and doesn't know the trouble that Iago is making for Desdemona.

December 12, 2010 8:25 AM

Othello Journal 3

     Desdemona seems kind and likeable as well as slightly outspoken.  She freely talks to Cassio and Iago.  I think Iago is completely rude and disgusting and will do anything to get his way.  He uses Roderigo and doesn't care about anyone else.  Othello is truly in love with Desdemona and I am not looking forward to the conflict that Iago is trying to start.  I am surprised that he thinks that Desdemona likes Cassio and I wonder if Iago truly thinks that Desdemona will tire of Othello so quickly.  Iago is made even more angry by the rumor that Othello slept with his wife but Iago must not care much about the feelings of his own wife when he says that he wants to get even with Othello "wife to wife."

Othello Journal 2

The Moors
     The word Moor is derived from "mauros," which is a Greek adjective that means dark or black.  The Moors were generally known to live in the Sahara along popular trading routes.  A Moorish general named Tarik-bin-ziad was asked by the Greeks to move his people north into the Iberian Peninsula and to defeat the Visigoth King Roderick of Spain.  The Moorish army eventually gained control of Spain and remained in Europe as rulers of several kingdoms and were involved in several wars throughout the centuries.  Moorish rule ended around 1479.  These people were also very religious; however, the Europeans tried to convert them from Muslims to Christians.

Comments:

winden said...

A seizure a day is a lot. I think it is interesting how people with epilepsy were thought to be "plagued by demons and Satan" and the Moorish people were also very superstitious. I wonder if epilepsy commonly affected their society and if epilepsy will be brought up later in Othello.

December 7, 2010 5:41 PM

winden said...

What is Venice like today compared to then? Are there still music centers?

December 7, 2010 9:07 PM

winden said...

The turkish people sound like they were very powerful and caused a lot of conflict. I think the conflict between the turks and cyprus is just coming up in Act one scene three of Othello.

December 7, 2010 9:12 PM

winden said...

 

I wonder if the Turkish people are as defensive as their government and always ready for attack?

December 7, 2010 9:15 PM

Othello Journal 1

    My strategy for reading the first scene in Othello was to begin by reading the list of characters at the beginning of the book.  Then I went through and read the vocab and explanation of phrases on the left page before I actually read the script on the right-side page.  After I finished the scene, I went back through to reread it and clarify anything I didn't understand.  I also tabbed the second time through.  The scene was a little confusing but I think the play will be much easier to read, once we have had practice on the first few scenes.  I like how it started off right away with the discussion between Iago and Roderigo.  Iago seems like a very complex, passionate character and I'm interested to see how the conflict will develop between all the characters.  Brabantio seems very worried about his daughter, but he also seems like he could be very controlling and demanding. 

The Piano Lesson Journal 8

In Act Two Scene Two, August Wilson uses internal conflict to convey that people must maintain a balance between learning from and accepting the past and moving on to live in the present, in order to be content.  At this point in the play, Berniece has been arguing with Boy Willie about the piano and dealing with Sutter’s ghost.  Avery has come to tell her about his progress in getting a church as well as to making another marriage proposal.  Berniece becomes angry when Avery pushes the subject and after arguing says “Everybody telling me I can’t be a woman unless I got a man,” so Avery asks how long she is going to cling to the memory of Crawley (67).  Here Berniece has plenty going on in her life; her past is coming back to haunt her with Boy Willie trying to take the piano, and a flood of bitter memories about Crawley’s death that she has never accepted or even confronted.  Berniece does not feel sure of herself when everyone in her family thinks she should get married.  She is fighting to be strong as an individual and not make the statement, that she “can’t be a woman unless [she] got a man,” a reality.  On the other hand, Berniece is afraid to start another relationship in her life for fear that she will lose her connection with Crawley, therefore losing her link with her past.  The past is a certain, without any surprises, and Berniece fears taking an unknown step into the future.

The Piano Lesson Journal 7

     The first thing that surprised me in Act 2 Scene 3 was when Boy Willie expected Berniece to go back to sleep when he told her that everything was alright.  Next, the dialogue between Lymon and Berniece was interesting.  This is the first time that Berniece seemed to listen to someone and not be angry about something.  She seemed calm, even though she was woken up in the middle of the night, and very kind to Lymon.  Berniece even complimented him when she tells Lymon that it shouldn't be too hard for him to find a job and that he will find the right girl to marry.  On the other hand, Lymon, who is fairly quiet, seems to have a lot to say during this scene.  He also seems to take a special interest to Maretha.  He has mentioned several times throughout the play how much she is grown and how pretty she is, and then he tells Berniece that he likes kids.  His side comments throughout the scene foreshadowed to the end when we see the first sign of a possible relationship between him and Berniece.  I think this is a turning point for Berniece's character and that maybe she will start to open up more and not be so bitter and angry all the time.

Comment:

winden said...

I agree that the kiss was surprising, even thought he author started to give hints and foreshadow to it. I wonder what Avery will do if he finds out and if it will cause conflict with Boy Willie or Maretha. I think Berniece clearly prefers Lymon but I wonder if she will marry Avery and try to avoid conflict.

November 29, 2010 6:24 PM

The Piano Lesson Journal 6

    When Avery comes to talk to Berniece, we see someone who wants to help Berniece and is standing up to her.  This is a first; Avery seems to be the only person that really cares about Berniece and is really kind and respectful.  In Act 2 Scene 2, Avery draws attention to Berniece's inability to move past her husband's death and let other people into her life.  "'Life is more than making it from one day to another.  You gonna look up one day and it's all gonna be past you.  Life's gonna be gone out of your hands--there won't be enough to make nothing with,'" is a portion of what Avery tells her (68).  Berniece is just trying to make it through her life and she's bringing the past along with her because she's bitter and not accepting.  She seems to like Avery, but at the rate she's going she will never be ready for a relationship.  Although you can learn from the past, Berniece needs to understand that you can't concentrate only on the past and keep trying to move forward at the same time.

Comment:

winden said...

I wonder if Maretha enjoys playing the piano or if she only plays it for Berniece, like Berniece only played it for her mother. I agree that Berniece has a lot of memories connected to the piano and could think of Crawley when she hears it. I feel like Berniece's trouble that she is having is because she can't separate the good memories from all the bad that are connected with the piano.

November 25, 2010 3:43 PM

The Piano Lesson Journal 5

     When Doaker tells Wining Boy about seeing Sutter's ghost, the ghost seems more real and not something that Berniece is just making up.  Also, the ghost's appearance becomes slightly more logical, if that's possible, and makes a better connection to Sutter's death and the piano.  A relatively short time after his death, only three days, Doaker says he saw Sutter sitting on the piano, and later he must have been playing it.  Doaker doesn't believe Boy Willie pushed him in the well; therefore, the piano is starting to appear even more significant and meaningful because it has the power to bring this man "back from the dead."  Sutter was apparently seen holding his head because of a broken neck.  All of these details add to the tone and the believeability of the ghost.  The ghost itself seems to becoming more of a character on its own and shows how the past is the present.  It also supports the fact that the characters are unable to leave the past behind and move on.

Comment:

winden said...

I agree about Sutter's ghost. I was really surprised when he was introduced into the book, and now I'm surprised how the ghost itself seems to be developing its own character and personality. We keep hearing more and more about the ghost, and I'm interested to see how else he will be involved in the story. Also, about the quote, "mixed her blood in with all the rest," I think it has a strong effect and emphasizes how many people have suffered over just one piano. Berniece seems to have a flair for drama.

November 22, 2010 5:00 PM

The Piano Lesson Journal 4

     During our reading on Friday, I found a passage that supports the idea that history repeats itself and the past is present: "I look at you and you're all the same.  You, Papa Boy Charles, Wining Boy, Doaker, Crawley. . .  you're all alike.  All this thieving and killing and thieving and killing.  And what it ever lead to?  More killing and more thieving.  I ain't never seen it come to nothing [. . .] It don't never stop" (52).  Berniece says this after Boy Willie continues to talk about taking the piano and selling it.  Berniece is the only person that feels so strongly about keeping or selling the piano; she see the consequences of Boy Willie's action and doesn't trust him to keep out of trouble.  Her family has a history of mischief, thieving, and killing and when Boy Willie, especially, disregards it she doesn't have hope that anyone will ever change.  She has tried to make a life for herself, but doesn't see anyone else doing the same.  Berniece has lost her husband and is bitter and overwhelmed.

Comment:
winden said...

I thought the way the author introduced the characters and didn't give us their full story until the end of Act one was very unusual. I wasn't able to connect or relate to the characters until much later in the story and still feel like they're a mystery. Also, I thought that the story about the Ghosts of the Yellow Dog was very intriguing and feel like the story has created a lot of superstitions and has affected a lot of people.

The Piano Lesson Journal 3

     During today's reading I found the description of Wining Boy especially interesting: "his music, his clothes, and even his manner of presentation are old.  He is a man who looking back over his life continues to live it with an odd mixture of zest and sorrow" (28).  I think this shows how the past can be the present and how it comes back to haunt you.  The past is something that is a part of everyone and needs to be recognized and learned from; however, I find Wining Boy's description pitiful and sad.  Everything about him is old and he continues to look back over life and is almost trying to live in the past.  The phrase "an odd mixture of zest and sorrow" makes Wining Boy sound like a man who was successful and thriving in his younger years but is now sad to let go of the past and move on.
    The section that we read today was my favorite so far.  I thought the interaction between all of the characters was fast paced and interesting, and I liked all the stories they told.  It wasn't boring and we were finally given more background on all of the characters.  We now know who the Ghosts of the Yellow Dog are and the story behind the piano.  Now that we know the history everything is more significant and meaningful.

Comment:
winden I agree that Boy Willie seems very negative and not brotherly towards Berniece. He seems very close minded and unopen to new ideas. When he makes a plan he wants to get his way. I was really surprised to hear him go as far to say that he would cut the piano in half and sell his part. Boy Willie would still be taking what he wants for himself and going against Berniece's wishes.

The Piano Lesson Journal 2

     Now that we have gotten to know quite a few characters, I thought that the reading was much faster paced.  There was a lot happening in Scene 1 with Berniece seeing the ghost, Boy Willie being accused of murder, and Lymon being accused of theft.  There was a lot of tension, and I was surprised by how much fighting and arguing there seems to be among the siblings.  I feel like it is common for the members of this family to go to one another when they need help, but other than that they stay out of each other's way.
     I also think that the mood has been fairly mysterious.  The characters continuously make references to their past; however, the readers are not being told the story, not yet at least.  Boy Willie and Lymon seem suspicious and defensive as they try and turn down accusation set against them.  The piano is slightly mysterious as well.  We don't know about the carvings on them and Boy Willie seems to almost threaten when he says to Maretha that he will tell her about the carvings if her mother doesn't; and, I wonder, how is Sutter connected to the piano and why would he be searching for it?
     Another thing I found interesting in our reading from today was Doaker's three paragraph long monologue about the railroad and trains on page 18 and 19.  I feel like there is a lot to analyze in this section with strong themes and symbols.

Comment:
I agree that one motive for Berniece to make up the ghost would be to persuade Boy Willie to leave faster; however, it also seemed to be a very real experience for her. It seems as though this could relate to a memory from her past that would explain why Berniece would have so much fear upon the sight of Sutter. I also think that the author has a very unique way of portraying the characters that leads you to assume and question different things about each one of them.

The Piano Lesson Journal 1

   The first thing that really interested me in The Piano Lesson appeared in the setting description at the beginning of Scene 1: "The dawn is beginning to announce itself, but there is something in the air that belongs to the night.  A stillness that is a portent, a gathering, a coming together of something akin to a storm" (1).  The quotation begins with personification when it says "the air that belongs to the night."  I think this makes the night seem more powerful and almost oppressive and dictating.  On the other hand, the second half of the quote seems to be foreshadowing a significant event to come later in the book.  Key words include "stillness," "coming together," "akin," "storm," and most importantly is "portent."
    Another detail that I found interesting on the first page of the book was the descriptions of Doaker and Boy Willie.  Doaker is Boy Willie's uncle; however, the description of the two relatives makes them seem completely opposite.  Doaker is tall and thin with severe features, and Boy Willie is impulsive and talkative with an infectious grin.  I wonder if these differences continue on into the whole of their personalities and their beliefs. 

Comment:
I agree about the story of the truck being slightly extensive and so far not serving much of a point. I think that maybe the story will continue on so that we can learn more about the past of Boy Willie and Lymon, including how they got the truck and why they have so many watermelons to sell. Also, about the relationships, I feel like something about the importance or significance of family could develop into a theme later in the book.

Cry Journal 6

     In Cry, The Beloved Country, Jarvis says "I'll go to Pretoria" (277) and I tabbed this because I am curious about what Jarvis's plans are for the future.  The people are saying that he has gone "queer" and is running out of money and so I wonder what he is up to.  He is already paying for milk for the young children and it seems like Absalom's death sentence isn't exactly what he wanted.  The second thing I tabbed is on page 279 when the "dead rivers come to life, that they knew that the storm was abating.  Indeed the thunder sounded farther away and there was a dull light in the church."  This is a metaphor for the Kumalo family and that their luck is finally turning around.  It shows that you can always hope for better times and that the storm can't last forever.

Land Parallel to the Kumalo Family

    In Cry, The Beloved Country, the land is an extended metaphor for Kumalo's family.  They are similar because both need attention and to be taken care of; they are breaking apart, worn down, and the family doesn't have the power to fix it.  Everything starts out looking fine, but there is a struggle ensuing beneath the surface.  "Where you stand the grass is rich and matted, you cannot see the soil.  But the rich green hills break down.  They fall to the valley below, and falling, change their nature.  For they grow red and bare; they cannot hold the rain and mist" (33) is a quotation that conveys this extended metaphor between land and the family.  Here, the soil represents all the problems that Kumalo and his wife are unaware of until Kumalo leaves for Johannesburg.  They are hidden under the "grass" of their relatives not writing letters.  The "rich green hills break[ing] down" describes the truth being revealed and suddenly everything Kumalo knew about his family changes.  "[T]hey cannot hold the rain and the mist" shows that John, Gertrude, and Absalom are unable to use the help Kumalo tries to give them.  Absalom is sentenced to death, John won't change his ways, and Gertrude doesn't come home to Ndotsheni.

Ashoka Fellows

     Emad Mubarak Abd El-Raheem is working in Egypt to improve human rights.  Specifically he wants to make academic freedom a right for all the students and universities that have censored textbooks and content.  They are forced to avoid controversial topics and are not allowed to be creative and learn some of the different things they would like to.  He is supporting students by providing legal assistance, educating teachers and administration about this issue, as well as bringing attention to the violators.
     George Abraham is working in India and is focusing on the medical attention and full potential of people with disabilities, especially decreased vision or blindness.  There are many people in India that are blind or vision impaired that either don't hold jobs or believe they must be dependents because of the viewpoint of their society.  Abraham started the Vision Enhancement Center which provides these people with counseling as well as medical attention.  They are given the support and the tools to get past their problems with vision and lead successful independent lives.
     Ravindranath from India is successfully helping the people, in areas that are ravaged by floods, to be prepared for floods and successfully live and work around them.  He has created committees and recruited volunteers to watch for floods and then put out warning signs.  He has also helped the people with crops, jobs, protecting their homes, and finding safe water to drink during a flood. 

Cry Journal: Nameless Characters

     One character in the book that is not given a name was Gertrude's son who is referred to as either Gertrude's son or the little boy.  The effect of this is that the boy seems less significant and less important to the story and more of a minor, background character.  When he is called the little boy it is more generalized and seem less caring or emotionally attached.  It doesn't seem to matter whether he is there or not; in one way, he is only a rope that ties Gertrude down.  Also, when the boy is referred to as Gertrude's son, all her sins and the possible negative thoughts about her are passed on to the boy.  His potential is shadowed by her wrong-doings.
     I think Alan Paton made this choice because the decision not to give a character a name tells the reader just as much as when the author chooses to give the character a name.  I think the author made this choice to show that a person has to maintain some responsibility, and that there are always consequences for every action.  All the mistakes Gertrude has made wouldn't seem as severe if she didn't have a son that needs to be taken care of.  I think it was a good decision on Paton's part to not give the boy a name because it keeps us focused on Gertrude who is one of the main characters that is going through a lot.  Without a name, the boy seems to be a bigger part of Gertrude's character than of his own.  I think Gertrude's character would be less complex without this boy who is not the main focus but always in the background.

Cry Journal 5

     There are multiple reasons why an author separates their story into different books.  First, it is a good way to organize.  The books divide groups of chapters that may have a slightly different subject and style.  In Cry, The Beloved Country, Book II focuses on Jarvis instead of Kumalo, like Book I does.  Secondly, the books prepare the reader for a new idea, or new shift in the story that will add another layer.  Also, it  highlights a part of the book that is the start of something new, and just as important as the first page of the first book.  It allows you to draw more connections and comparisons between two parts of the novel.

Cry Journal #4

These two websites link to information about the oppression of slaves in America.  They were oppressed by being forced to work and having their rights taken away by the white Americans.
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2008/12/slavery_in_america.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc1RbUxQv4E

Cry Journal #3

Repeating words/phrases: "When people go to Johannesburg, they do not come back" (38), "the toy train,"  "Have you a room to let?", "No, I have no room to let," "Shanty Town is up overnight," Msimango saying "huh" repeatedly, more lovely than one could sing about.
Repeating images: hills, valleys, mountains, comparison to a child, John being compared to a bull.
Repeating concepts: "Is this really Johannesburg?", fear, lost in streets.
     One phrase that Alan Paton repeats is "Shanty Town is up overnight" (89).  The effect of this phrase is to make the reader understand that these black families were moved into the Shanty Town before they knew it and it was an event that they hadn't known about or been planning for for a long time.  The author repeated these words to show that the government and the whites are now taking bigger steps towards racial separation and discrimination.  Although the families had generally lived in separate areas, this is the first time that a specific group of people was forced to live in a certain place and the fact that it is "up overnight" shows how rapidly these rules and laws are being enforced.
     The comparison of different characters, especially Stephen Kumalo, to a child is used repeatedly.  This image gives the impression that the person is very innocent and possibly uneducated and naive.  Also, the character may not be prepared for new things such as technology, loss of culture, and the problems they need to conquer as an adult.  I think the author uses this image to portray that the character still wants guidance and protection from what is going on in the world and their life and they don't necessarily know how to handle it.
     A concept used repeatedly is the difficulty of changing a person's way of life to start something completely new as represented by the quote "Is this really Johannesburg?"  The effect of this is to show that Kumalo is in disbelief and doesn't know what to think of this hectic city compared to his country life.  It is difficult to comprehend and this is one reason the author used the quote.  The quotation illustrates the concept that coming to such a different place is overwhelming and it is hard to try something new instead of sticking to a life of repetition, patterns, and customs.

Journal #5

     In Cry, The Beloved Country, the men and women are characterized in different ways.  The men seem to  be characterized by their job or occupation, such as priest or carpenter, and by how much power and authority they possess.  Education and how accustomed they are to the white man's world also work to characterize the men.  They are admired for their money and judged on how they live, whether it is in a tribe or in Johannesburg where they can speak more English.
     The women seem to be characterized more by their loyalty and personality characteristics.  They are either kind, open, good housewives who take care of their families or women such as Kumalo's sister who is sullen and "like an animal that is tormented" (61).  Different household duties and hostessing type skills characterize the women more than their education or looks.  The female characters do not appear to be main parts of the story but more background and supporting characters.
     The difference is significant because it shows the historical viewpoint of the genders, as well as the author's viewpoint.  I would expect that the difference in their characterization would effect the plot and change the meaning of the story.

Journal #4

     In Cry, The Beloved Country, my first tab was on page 33.  I tabbed the third paragraph that describes hills that don't support the people; an opposite description of the land described in paragraph one and two.  The land is completely contrasting and think this shows how the people that live on the land determine how rich the soil is, and how "holy" the ground is.  For my next tab, I marked the quote on page thirty four: "the earth was torn away like flesh [. . .] the clouds pour down upon them, the dead streams come to life, full of the red blood of the earth" (34).  Here, plenty of figurative language is used to compare the earth to a living body.  In this case it has been wounded and the rain comes down to make the earth bleed.  This could represent the pain and conflict that the people are going through on this land, and the pain and neglect that the earth is suffering as well.  Next, I found that the dialogue is never put into quotations, which works to remove the reader from the story and create a feeling of separation.  The characters words then blend into the rest of the narration and show that the narrator feels separated and distanced as well.  Finally, Kumalo is compared to a child: "[h]e puffed like a child at his smoke, and was thankful" (50).  This happens several times to show that Kumalo perhaps doesn't feel like he can survive in this society.  He feels young and alone so he pretends to be someone he is not.

Journal #3

      The theme I chose is that there must be consequences and people to enforce them in order for people to respect the rules or laws in a society.  The author develops this through the characters and setting throughout the story.  Jack and Ralph are two completely different characters that help to develop the theme.  Ralph wants to be rescued so he asks the others to help keep the fire going, build shelters, and keep their part of the beach clean.  He is not arrogant like Jack, who is extremely opinionated and must have his way.  Their leading styles are extremely different and the responses to their leadership is different as well.  Everyone liked Ralph but wouldn't listen to him because they knew there wouldn't be consequences.  However, Jack was feared but listened to because the boys were afraid of what he would do if they broke his rules.
     The boys came from a civilized society where there were constant reminders to do as your told and plenty of adults to enforce the rules, therefore children behaved with good manners.  Once they get to the island and are isolated from the usual rule enforcers, they begin to break apart and behave unacceptably.  The places in which Jack and Ralph's two different tribes are located show how important it is for there to be consequences and people to enforce them so that everyone will follow the rules.  Ralph's tribe has suitable shelters and the lagoon where everyone loves to swim as well as fruit trees.  The boys soon learn to be comfortable and do as they please.  However, Jack's tribe is constantly reminded of the consequences of going against the rules when they are surrounded by the dangerous and threatening ocean, the place where Simon and Piggy were killed, and Jack's fury.  For this reason they always follow the rules.

Journal #2

     If the author had included female characters in The Lord of the Flies, he would have needed to change some other parts of the story.  First of all, the female characters would hopefully be able to help in making more sound decisions.  There could possibly have been more organization and order, and the younger kids would have been more likely to be taken care of and not left to their own devices.  Secondly, with females on the island the boys such as Jack and Ralph might have tried to impress the girls instead of fighting for one another's attention and approval.  The boy's could have kept more of their manners in the process.  Another effect this could have on the book would be to lessen the violence and man hunts.  The females would be more prone to being sympathetic, caring, and protective and hopefully the boys would be more conscious and aware of their actions and consequences.  Therefore, the author would probably change what the conflicts in the story were about and their outcomes.  Hopefully everyone on the island wouldn't forget their connection to society and the difference between right and wrong if female characters had been included in the book.

Journal #1

     The author's choice to have Piggy "searching out safe lodgments for his feet" has several effects.  It shows that Piggy naturally thinks before he acts and is careful.  Also, the fact that William Golding decided to make this less apparent than his physical appearance foreshadows that his knowledge and capability may be ignored because he looks different than the others.  Therefore needed leadership, help, and ideas might not be gained because of the close-mindedness and immaturity of the boys.  The effect of this was to cause fights and rebellion and an overall deterioration of group-mindedness and achievements.

     The choice of weather also had a big impact on the book.  The fact that in the first page the author includes the quote "a multitude of raindrops fell pattering" (1) affects many aspects of the story.  This shows there is a high amount of precipitation on the island which causes it to rain during key points in the book.  It rains the night Simon was killed which is foreshadowed by the quote from page one.  Rain can be dreary and uncomfortable, especially when the boys are living in the wilderness.  This creates an atmosphere of unease and restlessness for the boys to leave the island, especially when bad situations such as Simon's death are associated with it.  The rain has an impact on the mood in the book.