“[…] The Moor, howbeit that I endure him not,/ Is of a constant, loving, noble nature,/ And I dare think he’ll prove to Desdemona/ A most dear husband” (2.1 40).
Iago’s statement once again enforces the concept of him truly being the embodiment of evil. Iago realizes Othello to be a respected, moral, and loving. Iago decides that he hates Othello anyway. His hatred for Othello, however, seems to lack intercity. Iago fails to provide good reason for hating Othello. It seems to be mere jealousy or perhaps a sick game that Iago conducts. It is almost as if Iago has chosen Othello at random to be the victim of his game. Iago wants to use people like Rodrigo and Cassio to angry Othello while he remains in good will with Othello. Iago enjoys creating strife and chaos for others for the sheer purpose of testing his ability to manipulate others.
Question: Why does Iago hate Othello so much? If so, is his reason practical?
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Othello Act 1 Scene 2-3
“Thus do I ever make my fool my purse;/ For I mine own gained knowledge should profane /
If I would time expend with such snipe/But for my sport and profit. I ate the Moor,/ And it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets/ H’ as done me office. I know not if’t be true,/ But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,/ Will do, as if for surety. He holds me well:/ The better shall my purpose work him. “ (1.3 27)
This quote vividly demonstrates how Iago is the embodiment of evil within the play. Iago admits to himself how he is using Rodrigo. Prior to this Iago lectures Rodrigo for the second time, on how he should deal with his inability to marry Othello’s wife. Iago is exploiting Rodrigo’s desperation. Iago will keep manipulating people until he is confronted. Eventually living a lie catches up with you and the same befall Iago. He will be exposed.
What will Iago use Rodrigo’s money for?
If I would time expend with such snipe/But for my sport and profit. I ate the Moor,/ And it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets/ H’ as done me office. I know not if’t be true,/ But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,/ Will do, as if for surety. He holds me well:/ The better shall my purpose work him. “ (1.3 27)
This quote vividly demonstrates how Iago is the embodiment of evil within the play. Iago admits to himself how he is using Rodrigo. Prior to this Iago lectures Rodrigo for the second time, on how he should deal with his inability to marry Othello’s wife. Iago is exploiting Rodrigo’s desperation. Iago will keep manipulating people until he is confronted. Eventually living a lie catches up with you and the same befall Iago. He will be exposed.
What will Iago use Rodrigo’s money for?
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Separate peace essay, “Does Gene see Finny as a friend or an enemy?”
Rossi, 1
Michael Rossi
December 09, 2008
English 10 Honors/Mr. George
English Essay “Does Gene see Finny as a friend or an enemy?”
Gene’s true friend
Gene spent the majority of his duration at Devon in turmoil, due to his lack of self confidence. He constantly struggled to realize his purpose and subdue his envy. Gene wanted to believe that Finny shared his animosity and sense of rivalry. Not only did this thought never cross Finny’s mind, but in fact it was the exact opposite. Gene later realizes, “Now I knew that there never was and never could have been any rivalry between us” (Knowles 59). Finny was, in fact, Gene’s greatest ally in the battle against himself and through his death Gene finally realizes this. Finny was sacrificed for Gene so that Gene would be endowed the clairvoyance bring about a radical change in himself.
Throughout the text, Gene remains a dynamic character, always changing his attitude and goals. Much of this alteration is caused by Gene’s inability to identify his true problems. Finny has always made a genuine endeavor to better Gene and has remained a true friend until the end. Gene’s inner voice often misguides him into foolish actions which Gene clearly regretsward. This is best exhibited after Gene jounced Finny from the tree, “That night I slept easily, and it was only on waking up that this illusion was gone, and I was confronted with myself, and what I had done to Finny” (62). Gene realizes that Finny is not an enemy: however, he fails to recognize Finny is an asset.
When Gene loses his composure, he often directs the blame to a section of himself, rather than accepting the blame. One example of this is when he flung Finny from the tree:” and
Rossi, 2
then my knees bent and I jounced the limb” (60). Gene directed the blame to his knees; as if they forced him to jounce the limb. This shows that Gene has recognized a force within himself that seems to think for itself. When Gene’s extreme emotions are unrestricted this force seems to exert its dominion over Gene even more. For example, when Leper tests Gene’s patience and agitates Gene so immensely that he kicks his chair out from under him. When Leper’s mother saw, Gene acknowledges, that a force other than his own led him to his actions “she must have thought, ‘a terrible temper, no self control, but he’s sorry, and he is a good boy underneath’ (146). When Gene suggests what Leper’s mother must be thinking, he states that he must be a good boy underneath. By saying underneath, Gene is referring to the scapegoat personality he uses to shield himself from blame. The surface (being Gene’s dark side) is first acknowledged as an adversary; and this is the turning point of Gene’s depiction of his enemy.
Through dying, Finny’s positive characteristic merged with those of Gene’s to allow Gene to see life from a whole new perspective. When Finny died Gene finally grasped just how dear Finny was to him, “I did not cry then or ever about Finny.[…] I could not escape a feeling that this was my own funeral, and you do not cry in that case” (194). This statement illustrates just how much a friend Finny was. This funeral was not Gene’s distant cousin whom Gene had only spoken to on occasion; rather this is Gene’s closest companion. Gene was so stricken by a plethora of emotions, that this feeling never removed itself from Gene’s mind.
Gene knew Finny so well that he was able to feel what he believes Finny must have felt. This is a connection that one does not have with any arbitrary human being, but a best friend whose attitude and observations can be simulated by past experience and constant scrutiny. Gene expresses this understanding when he describes his experiences during the war. Gene states, “I
Rossi, 3
never killed anybody and I never developed an intense level of hatred for the enemy. Because my war ended before I ever put on a uniform” (204). This philosophy is that of Finny’s. It pertains to Finny’s ever-expanding spheres of loyalty that he would not be able to identify the enemy or validate the war. This also demonstrates what Gene has achieved since Finny’s death and Gene’s assimilation.
Beforehand, Gene was unable to restrain himself from potentially violent actions. Gene’s conflict with Quakenbush is an intense example of this: “‘You, Quakenbush, don’t know anything about who I am.’ That launched me, […] I hit him hard across the face” (79). The latest (Finny-like) Gene is not only the aggressor in these circumstances, he fails to realize them altogether due to adapting to Finny’s ever-expanding spheres of loyalty.
Finny’s death exposed Gene to a gateway of opportunities and insight that was once out of reach for Gene. Finny changed Gene for the better; he changed him in the way that only a best friend. The older and wiser Gene interjects judgments within the text about his current views on past occurrences that often are contrary to his adolescent beliefs. This is the chief indicator that Gene has grown emotionally and intellectually from his past. Gene was changed by the only one who ever made him show regret, the only one who remained by him until the end, and the only one to never recognize these deeds as anything out of the standard routine, Finny.
Michael Rossi
December 09, 2008
English 10 Honors/Mr. George
English Essay “Does Gene see Finny as a friend or an enemy?”
Gene’s true friend
Gene spent the majority of his duration at Devon in turmoil, due to his lack of self confidence. He constantly struggled to realize his purpose and subdue his envy. Gene wanted to believe that Finny shared his animosity and sense of rivalry. Not only did this thought never cross Finny’s mind, but in fact it was the exact opposite. Gene later realizes, “Now I knew that there never was and never could have been any rivalry between us” (Knowles 59). Finny was, in fact, Gene’s greatest ally in the battle against himself and through his death Gene finally realizes this. Finny was sacrificed for Gene so that Gene would be endowed the clairvoyance bring about a radical change in himself.
Throughout the text, Gene remains a dynamic character, always changing his attitude and goals. Much of this alteration is caused by Gene’s inability to identify his true problems. Finny has always made a genuine endeavor to better Gene and has remained a true friend until the end. Gene’s inner voice often misguides him into foolish actions which Gene clearly regretsward. This is best exhibited after Gene jounced Finny from the tree, “That night I slept easily, and it was only on waking up that this illusion was gone, and I was confronted with myself, and what I had done to Finny” (62). Gene realizes that Finny is not an enemy: however, he fails to recognize Finny is an asset.
When Gene loses his composure, he often directs the blame to a section of himself, rather than accepting the blame. One example of this is when he flung Finny from the tree:” and
Rossi, 2
then my knees bent and I jounced the limb” (60). Gene directed the blame to his knees; as if they forced him to jounce the limb. This shows that Gene has recognized a force within himself that seems to think for itself. When Gene’s extreme emotions are unrestricted this force seems to exert its dominion over Gene even more. For example, when Leper tests Gene’s patience and agitates Gene so immensely that he kicks his chair out from under him. When Leper’s mother saw, Gene acknowledges, that a force other than his own led him to his actions “she must have thought, ‘a terrible temper, no self control, but he’s sorry, and he is a good boy underneath’ (146). When Gene suggests what Leper’s mother must be thinking, he states that he must be a good boy underneath. By saying underneath, Gene is referring to the scapegoat personality he uses to shield himself from blame. The surface (being Gene’s dark side) is first acknowledged as an adversary; and this is the turning point of Gene’s depiction of his enemy.
Through dying, Finny’s positive characteristic merged with those of Gene’s to allow Gene to see life from a whole new perspective. When Finny died Gene finally grasped just how dear Finny was to him, “I did not cry then or ever about Finny.[…] I could not escape a feeling that this was my own funeral, and you do not cry in that case” (194). This statement illustrates just how much a friend Finny was. This funeral was not Gene’s distant cousin whom Gene had only spoken to on occasion; rather this is Gene’s closest companion. Gene was so stricken by a plethora of emotions, that this feeling never removed itself from Gene’s mind.
Gene knew Finny so well that he was able to feel what he believes Finny must have felt. This is a connection that one does not have with any arbitrary human being, but a best friend whose attitude and observations can be simulated by past experience and constant scrutiny. Gene expresses this understanding when he describes his experiences during the war. Gene states, “I
Rossi, 3
never killed anybody and I never developed an intense level of hatred for the enemy. Because my war ended before I ever put on a uniform” (204). This philosophy is that of Finny’s. It pertains to Finny’s ever-expanding spheres of loyalty that he would not be able to identify the enemy or validate the war. This also demonstrates what Gene has achieved since Finny’s death and Gene’s assimilation.
Beforehand, Gene was unable to restrain himself from potentially violent actions. Gene’s conflict with Quakenbush is an intense example of this: “‘You, Quakenbush, don’t know anything about who I am.’ That launched me, […] I hit him hard across the face” (79). The latest (Finny-like) Gene is not only the aggressor in these circumstances, he fails to realize them altogether due to adapting to Finny’s ever-expanding spheres of loyalty.
Finny’s death exposed Gene to a gateway of opportunities and insight that was once out of reach for Gene. Finny changed Gene for the better; he changed him in the way that only a best friend. The older and wiser Gene interjects judgments within the text about his current views on past occurrences that often are contrary to his adolescent beliefs. This is the chief indicator that Gene has grown emotionally and intellectually from his past. Gene was changed by the only one who ever made him show regret, the only one who remained by him until the end, and the only one to never recognize these deeds as anything out of the standard routine, Finny.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
A Separate Peace chaper 13
"My fury was gone, I felt it gone, dried up at the source, withered and lifeless. Phineas had absorbed it and taken it with him, and was rid of it forever."
Gene was at a constant state of distraught when it came to his relationship with his friend Finny. Gene’s intense rivalry developed into full blown jealousy. Gene made himself emotionally and socially distant and easily irritable. When Finny died Gene claimed that a part of him died. The part that died was his hatred, jealousy, and competitive nature. Gene not only lost his rival he realized how destructive such an intense feeling is when channeled against others. Through Finny’s death, Gene has been reborn.
Question: Is Gene to blame for being so cold and accepting towards Finny's death so nonchalantly?
Gene was at a constant state of distraught when it came to his relationship with his friend Finny. Gene’s intense rivalry developed into full blown jealousy. Gene made himself emotionally and socially distant and easily irritable. When Finny died Gene claimed that a part of him died. The part that died was his hatred, jealousy, and competitive nature. Gene not only lost his rival he realized how destructive such an intense feeling is when channeled against others. Through Finny’s death, Gene has been reborn.
Question: Is Gene to blame for being so cold and accepting towards Finny's death so nonchalantly?
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
A Separate Peace chaper 12
"I did not cry then or ever about Finny. I did not even cry when I stood watching him being lowered into his family's strait-laced burial ground outside of Boston. I could not escape a feeling that this was my own funeral, and you do not cry in that case."
When Gene learned of Finny’s demise his reaction was lacking. It lacked complexity and it lacked compassion. Two things would most often be key components of the feelings one would have over the loss of a best friend. Finny simply claimed that Finny was a part of him and did not exhibit sadness then or ever. This is especially disturbing because the last encounter he had with Finny was an argument about Finny chances in a potential military battle. Most people after reflecting on the death of a best friend would immediately burst into tears not take them for granted as a part of them and never revisit it again in their minds. If Gene does consider Finny to be a part of him it is all the more reason to cry and mourn their loss especially since their last encounter was not a pleasant one.
Question- When will Gene realize what he has lost?
When Gene learned of Finny’s demise his reaction was lacking. It lacked complexity and it lacked compassion. Two things would most often be key components of the feelings one would have over the loss of a best friend. Finny simply claimed that Finny was a part of him and did not exhibit sadness then or ever. This is especially disturbing because the last encounter he had with Finny was an argument about Finny chances in a potential military battle. Most people after reflecting on the death of a best friend would immediately burst into tears not take them for granted as a part of them and never revisit it again in their minds. If Gene does consider Finny to be a part of him it is all the more reason to cry and mourn their loss especially since their last encounter was not a pleasant one.
Question- When will Gene realize what he has lost?
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
A Separate Peace chaper 11
"You get all your facts!" [...] "you collect every f-ing fact there is in the world!" He plunged out the doors. (Knowles 177)
Finny fails to accept anything that opposes his separate peace. Finny told Gene that he was his best friend and has maintained this to be true for the duration of the story. Finny will not allow Gene to receive the blame that he deserves. When Brinker relentlessly pursues his suspicion of Gene and grows close to receiving the truth, Finny feels threatened that his peace may be infringed upon. Finny, unable to handle this flees to the stairs where he falls, along with his separate peace.
How will Brinker react to Finny’s misfortune? How will Gene react? Will there reactions oppose one another’s?
Finny fails to accept anything that opposes his separate peace. Finny told Gene that he was his best friend and has maintained this to be true for the duration of the story. Finny will not allow Gene to receive the blame that he deserves. When Brinker relentlessly pursues his suspicion of Gene and grows close to receiving the truth, Finny feels threatened that his peace may be infringed upon. Finny, unable to handle this flees to the stairs where he falls, along with his separate peace.
How will Brinker react to Finny’s misfortune? How will Gene react? Will there reactions oppose one another’s?
Monday, December 1, 2008
A Separate Peace chaper 10
"Do you think I want to hear every gory detail! Shut up! I don't care! I don't care what happend to you, Leper, I don't give a damn! Do you understand that? This has nothing to do with me! Nothing at all! I don't care!"
Gene verbally lashes out at Leper because his asinine story is so unreal and repulsive. Gene does not only attack Leper because of the story, he also attacks him because he had lost all prior mannerism and value for others. Gene is frustrated that Leper had changed; even more so because the war had changed him. Gene is about to go into this war and he does not wish to become crazed and foolish like Leper. Gene does not wish to relinquish the peace he had dwelled in at Devon. He not wish disorder in his separate peace away from the war.
Question: Will Gene and Leper recreate their friendship?
Gene verbally lashes out at Leper because his asinine story is so unreal and repulsive. Gene does not only attack Leper because of the story, he also attacks him because he had lost all prior mannerism and value for others. Gene is frustrated that Leper had changed; even more so because the war had changed him. Gene is about to go into this war and he does not wish to become crazed and foolish like Leper. Gene does not wish to relinquish the peace he had dwelled in at Devon. He not wish disorder in his separate peace away from the war.
Question: Will Gene and Leper recreate their friendship?
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