Life of Pi Blog 1

For my book of choice, I decided to read Life of Pi. It may seem like it is just the story about a young man who gets stuck on a life boat for several months with the only company of a wild tiger, but there is so much depth and symbolism in this story that can be discussed. In the beginning of the story we learn that the narrator is also the main character, Piscine Molitor Patel, or Pi for short. Pi tells the reader about how his family lived and India and his father owned a zoo. Pi continues to tell about who he is and what his life is like.  He even goes into extreme detail about the origin of his name and how he came to be known as Pi. He was tormented as a child because his first name got mistaken for "pissing" and he describes how happy he was to find an escape through the use of a nickname: "And so, in that Greek letter that looks like a shack with a corrugated tin roof, in that elusive, irrational number with which scientists try to understand the universe, I found refuge." Pi also informs the reader that he is not a member of one religion but in fact three! He openly practices Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. He doesn't think that it is a problem to have three faiths at the same time: "Bapu Gandhi said, 'All religions are true.' I just want to love God." I have to say I agree with him, to an extent. I believe that people have religions because they want to worship God and love God and Pi is learning how people from other religions praise Him. I think it's a good idea to get to learn about other methods of worship, but it's also a little risky to be involved in three completely different faiths, especially ones that don't necessarily get along. Pi tells us that eventually his family had to sell the zoo because of issues with the government and how they were planning on moving to Canada. This is where the trouble begins. The family loads up a huge ship full of the remaining animals and they set sail for North America. The ship, unfortunately, sinks, and Pi is left all alone on a small lifeboat with an injured zebra, a hyena, an orangutan and a tiger.
I really like this book so far. I like the way that it is narrated by the main character and I also like the fact that it is a drama and a comedy at the same time. The author, Yann Martel, touches on many hot issues like religion and the difference between what's real and what's not. This story is so unbelievable that it's actually believable. I enjoy that there's never a dull moment and you never know what is going to happen next. The author uses so much detail and describes how Pi is feeling every step of the way and the reader is able to connect with Pi on a deeper level.

Frankenstein Blog 4

In the final section of the book the monster begins to feel the pain of his isolation. The monster desperately wants a family to call his own and to be included in something for once in his existence: "As yet I looked upon crime as a distant evil; benevolence and generosity were ever present before me, inciting within me a desire to become an actor in the busy scene where so many admirable qualities were called forth and displayed." The monster decides to approach the family after reading some notes written by Victor describing the creation of the monster. He speaks to the blind old man and tells him that he his lonely and doesn't know what to do. The old man tells him this: "Do not despair. To be friendless is indeed to be unfortunate; but the hearts of men, when unprejudiced by any obvious self interest, are full of brotherly love and charity. Rely, therefore, on your hopes; and if these friends are good and amiable, do not despair." The fact that Shelley used a blind old man in this part shows that if more people would be blind to the physical appearance of others we would be more compassionate and trusting. The other members of the family return to the house and are frightened by the appearance of the monster. The old man's son gets violent toward the monster and the monster escapes. The monster is saddened and angered by the fact that Victor made him so hideous and feels that no one will ever want him. The monster knows that he could have killed the whole family easily if he wanted to, but the fact that he didn't shows that he is not out to harm people and he just wants to be loved and accepted despite his scary appearance. He realizes that humans are to blame, especially his creator: "From that moment I declared everlasting war against the species, and, more than all, against him who had formed me, and sent me forth to this insupportable misery." The monster finally confronts his creator and demands that he make him a female companion to spend his existence with. He promises that he and his companion will never bother humans and he will be forever grateful. Victor knows the consequences might be bad, but he is willing to take the risk to make his creation happy. As time goes on, however, Victor continues to put off his promise and the monster becomes angry. Long story short the monster ends up getting revenge on Victor by killing Elizabeth and Victor promises to devote the rest of his life to finding and destroying his creation.
I think this has got to be the tragedy of all tragedies. First Victor's mother dies and his little brother too. Then in the end his beloved almost wife Elizabeth dies which leads to the death of his father and then he dedicates his life to killing the monster but he dies before he finds it. Victor would have been better off if he had just ignored his creepy desire to create a monster and live his life like a regular young man. Shelley's message was very good, however, and it was very clear that too much power can lead to disaster.

Frankenstein Blog 3

Victor discovers that Justine has been killed for murdering William, Victor's brother. Victor enters a deep depression that he doesn't think he will get out of: "The blood flowed freely in my veins, but a weight of despair and remorse pressed on my heart, which nothing could remove." I think he is saying that he may still be actually living, but he's not living in the sense of being happy and enjoying himself. Victor's father realizes he is upset and tries to make him feel better. They travel to Belrive and there Victor encounters the monster: "I perceived, as the shape came nearer (sight tremendous and abhorred!) that it was the wretch whom I had created." Victor yells at the monster refers to it as "devil". It's ironic that Victor wants nothing to do with the monster now that he finished it and put so much time into it and now he's afraid of his creation. The monster convinces Victor to come with him to a hut on the mountain, where the monster tells his story. To be honest I'm surprised the monster didn't harm Victor after the way Victor yelled at him. The monster doesn't even seem to be a monster except for his appearance, and seems to make a sort of peace offering when he asks Victor to listen to his story. This just makes Victor look like an ass and I think he realizes it.
The monster tells about his struggles to Victor, especially when he first awakens: "It was dark when i awoke; I felt cold also, and half-frightened, as it were instinctively, finding myself so desolate." Even though the monster is a monster, he was still scared of first entering the world, just like a human. The monster encounters a family, and realizes he is sad and lonely: "Night quickly shut in; but, to my extreme wonder, I found that the cottagers had a means of prolonging light by the use of tapers, and was delighted to find that the setting of the sun did not put an end to the pleasure I experienced in watching my human neighbors." The monster even begins to develop feelings and is saddened by the fact that the people weren't always happy: "They were not entirely happy. The young man and his companion often went apart, and appeared to weep. I saw no cause for their unhappiness; but I was deeply affected by it."
It seems like this "monster" isn't a monster at all. He seems compassionate for people and has no intention of hurting them. Victor thinks that just because his creation is physically terrifying doesn't mean he is harmful. I think that this was the point Shelley was trying to make: People are people no matter what they look like and that they shouldn't be judged on their appearance. The monster is scary but has way more affection than his creator will ever have. Victor loses his brother and mother and thinks his life is pointless and feels sorry for himself but the monster has no family and he probably never will and doesn't seem affected by it.

Frankenstein Blog 2

In the next part of the book Victor describes his childhood. He explains how he and his sister were so different, yet they fit perfectly together: "Harmony was the soul of our companionship, and the diversity and contrast that subsisted in our characters drew us nearer together." It seems like one of the very few friends Victor has happens to be his sister, which is kind of sad. Victor says that he would intentionally avoid people and his "temper was sometimes violent, and my passions vehement; but by some law in my temperature they were turned, not towards childish pursuits, but to an eager desire to learn, and not to learn all things indiscriminately." This shows that Victor is extremely intelligent and way more mature than other children his age. He has a great love for science, but his father knows little about science, so Victor has to explore on his own: "My father was not scientific, and I was left to struggle with a child's blindness, added to a student's thirst for knowledge." Victor talks about going to college and how he must fend for himself and make an effort to meet new people and interact. However, he gets very involved in his schoolwork and returns to his old ways of being anti-social, perhaps even worse this time around. I think in a way it's admirable that Victor is so wrapped up in his studies and isn't so concerned about being social and going out and having fun. But at the same time, I think it's unhealthy for a college student, or anyone for that matter, to devote their entire being to studying and learning and working on his creation. When he finally finishes his creation he is scared of it: "Oh! no mortal could support the horror of that countenance. A mummy again endued with animation could not be so hideous as that wretch. I had gazed on him while unfinished; he was ugly then; but when those muscles and joints were rendered capable of motion, it became a thing such as even Dante could not have conceived." It's ironic that Victor put all of this hard work and passion into this creation and it ended up being less than his expectations and he actually becomes terrified of his work. he becomes so stressed out about his creation that he becomes ill. This shows that Victor is already becoming obsessed with his work and it is just going to get worse and worse.
I think the book so far is alright in terms of what is going on but in terms of language I think Shelley is right on. The complex words she uses shows how intellectual Victor is and how passionate he is about science and his creation. It can be a little hard to follow at times but the word choice fits perfectly with the character. The fact that a woman wrote this story makes it even more interesting. Women at this point in time were thought of incapable of doing a lot of things, so Shelley writing a book of great importance is very empowering and refreshing. I hope the story gets more eventful as it goes on.

Frankenstein Blog 1

The novel starts out with a series of letters written by Robert Walton to Mrs. Saville, his sister. In his letters he explains that he is on a voyage to the Arctic. Walton seems like a very optimistic person in his first letter: "These reflections have dispelled the agitation with which I began my letter, and I feel my heart glow with an enthusiasm which elevates me to heaven; for nothing contributes so much to tranquillese the mind as a steady purpose--a point on which the soul may fixits intellectual eye. He hopes that this expedition will make some purpose in his life. I thought this was a strange but good way to start this book because it sets the tone of a dark story and it isn't the typical "Once upon a time" we're all accustomed to. After reading the four letters from Walton the reader starts chapter 1, where the narration is switched to Victor Frankenstein. The chapter starts out with Victor
narrating about his life story and he talks about how his mother and father met. It's a little creepy because of how far they are apart in age and also considering the fact that the narrator's father took in Caroline, the narrator's mother, in as a daughter! The narrator talks about being born in Italy and the way his parents took pride in their only son and how perfect his life was. He talks about his family adopting a girl named Elizabeth. Victor seems to adore Elizabeth and the last line of the chapter seems to imply that he becomes a little overprotective: "No word, no expression could body forth the kind of relation in which she stood to me --my more than sister, since till death she was to be mine only."
Victor continues to explain his story and says that his life hasn't always been rainbows and unicorns: "I feel exquisite pleasure in dwelling on the recollections of childhood, before misfortune had tainted my mind, and changed its bright visions of extensive usefulness into gloomy and narrow reflections upon self." He talks about the death of his mother and I think that this is the start of Victor's misfortune. I see a lot of similarities between Robert Walton and Victor. Both men have a drive for learning and both are very determined. I think Shelley opened the novel with letters from Walton to his sister to show the reader the close resemblance. Victor seems to become so hungry for knowledge that he becomes kind of obsessed with his creation and I think this is because of the death of his mother.
I think this book will start to get very interesting as it progresses. It becomes evident that Victor is already starting to lose his mind and this obsession will eventually do more harm than good.

Pride and Prejudice Blog 3

In the next part of the book Elizabeth receives a letter from Darcy. In the letter, he explains his intentions for trying to break up Jane and Bingley and he tells Elizabeth the truth about Mr. Wickham. Darcy tells her that Wickham wanted to marry his sister Georgiana, but he only wanted to take advantage of her: "Mr. Wickham's chief object was unquestionably my sister's fortune, which is thirty thousand pounds; but I cannot help supposing that the hope of revenging himself on me was a strong inducement." (pg. 229). I think Darcy seems very sincere in his letter and seems like a completely different character from how he was described earlier in the book. Even Elizabeth is surprised by this transformation and cannot believe he would actually apologize to her. When she reads about the part about Wickham, she is a little hesitant to believe it. She assumes that it isn't true and tosses it aside, but something inside of her wonders if Darcy is telling the truth. This shows that Elizabeth may actually have some trust in Darcy despite his terrible personality.
Elizabeth decides to return home even though Lady Catherine wishes she would stay longer. When she gets back home Elizabeth and Collins meet for breakfast and Collins brags about how happy he is and how perfect his marriage is: "My dear Charlotte and I have but one mind and one way of thinking. There is in everything a most remarkable resemblance of character and ideas between us. We seem to have been designed for each other." (pg. 244). I think Collins's description of his marriage is actually pretty corny. I mean, if he and Charlotte were made for each other, why was he trying to marry Elizabeth just the other week? And most importantly, why is he rubbing all this in Elizabeth's face? It's obvious that he's still upset about the rejection and trying to make Elizabeth regret her decision. That seems like the type of thing a child would do but oh well.
Elizabeth tells Jane about Wickham and how she doesn't want to see him again. She explains the letter to Jane and Jane is appalled that someone would do such an evil thing. Jane feels sorry for Darcy and thinks about the pain he went through, which shows that Jane is kindhearted and sympathetic.
Later on Elizabeth tours Pemberley Estate and begins to wonder what it would be like to live there: "They were all of them warm in their admiration; and at that moment she felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something!" (pg. 274). This sort of implies that later on she actually might become the mistress of Pemberley and marry Darcy. During this visit, Elizabeth's opinion of Darcy changes because she hears nothing but good things about him: "This was praise of all others most extraordinary, most opposite to her ideas. That he was not a good-tempered man had been her firmest opinion. Her keenest attention was awakened; she longed to hear more." (pg. 278).
I think this part of the book has really showed the reader that Elizabeth's opinion of Darcy is slowly changing for the better and shows that their relationship will continue to grow. I think that Elizabeth and Darcy will definitely fall in love eventually, but the question is if they will actually stay together.

Pride and Prejudice Blog 2

In the next part of Pride and Prejudice Elizabeth meets a man named Wickham. She seems to like Wickham and becomes pretty good acquaintances with him. Many people, including Jane, do not like Wickham and warn Elizabeth to stay away from him: "Mr. Wickham is by no means a respectable young man. I am afraid he has been very imprudent, and he has deserved to lose Mr. Darcy's regard." (pg. 109). Later on, Mr. Collins asks Elizabeth to marry him! It's kind of strange to me that back in this era people would get married so fast without dating much or anything, they just talk a few times and dance at balls or whatever and get married in a flash. Elizabeth tries to turn him down in the best way possible but he just doesn't seem to get the hint: "I am not now to learn that it is usual with young ladies to reject the addresses of the man whom they secretly mean to accept, when he first applies for their favour; and that sometimes the refusal is repeated a second or even a third time." (pg. 122). This guy seems to be completely full of himself! He obviously thinks he is too great to be rejected by anyone and is too big-headed to realize he's not wanted. I feel bad for Elizabeth! All these strange men wanting to marry her and other guys talking bad about her and then wanting her (Mr. Darcy). Mrs. Bennet finds out that Elizabeth rejected the proposal and becomes furious. She tells Mr. Bennet and expects him to fix the problem, but Elizabeth ends up with an ultimatum: She either marries Collins and never sees her father again or does not marry Collins and never sees her mother again.
A few days later, news comes in that Mr. Collins has proposed to Elizabeth's friend Charlotte and she has accepted. Elizabeth is shocked by this: "The strangeness of Mr. Collins's making two offers of marriage within three days was nothing in comparison of his being now accepted." (pg. 144). This line was a little funny because it's saying that Collins's ability to actually get accepted is extremely strange and surprising. Not only is all this drama going on for Elizabeth, but Jane is having some of her own. Bingley's evil sister keeps writing the Bennets letters about how her brother is going to marry Miss Darcy and how wonderful Miss Darcy is. In my opinion Miss Bingley is like the horrible, mean, popular girl in high school and it's her main mission to make the Bennet sisters miserable. I don't know why she has all this hate for the sisters besides the fact that Mr. Darcy has an interest in Lizzy, but really, who cares? She has the same opportunity as Elizabeth to get with Darcy and it's obvious he doesn't like her. Maybe if she was nicer and not all about herself Darcy would pay attention to her.
So far this book is pretty drama-filled and intense. I'm pretty eager to see what happens between Elizabeth and Wickham and if Bingley actually marries Miss Darcy, although I think this is one of those books where everything ends happily. I guess I'll have to wait and see!