In the first part of The Catcher in the Rye the main character, Holden Caulfield, narrates the story and starts out talking about how he got kicked out of Pencey Prep. He explains how he has kicked out of many different schools because he doesn't care about his education. He makes it sound like it's the school that is awful and not his lack of trying: "They don't do any damn more molding at Pencey than they do at any other school. And I didn't know anybody there that was splendid and clear thinking and all." Holden seems very negative about everything and he doesn't care about anything, either. Holden talks about visiting his history teacher Mr. Spencer and how he had to listen to Mr. Spencer talk about why he was failing Holden: "I flunked you in history because you knew absolutely nothing." And while Mr. Spencer keeps repeating why Holden failed, Holden is perfectly polite and agrees with everything he says, while in his head he is getting pissed off and wants to leave already. I thought this part was pretty funny because Holden decided to be nice and visit his sick teacher for the last time and his teacher makes him miserable by criticizing him the whole time.
Holden also talks about a kid named Ackley who always bothers Holden and supposedly hates everyone: "He hated Stradlater's guts and he never came in the room if Stradlater was around. He hated everybody's guts, damn near." It's pretty funny that Holden basically tells Ackley to go away, but he never gets the hint. Holden can't seem to get away even when he make a big effort to. Then Holden's roommate Stradlater comes in and asks Holden if he can borrow his coat and asks if Holden can write a paper for him. It's pretty ironic that Stradlater asks the kid that is failing almost all of his classes to write a paper for him. It's even more ironic that Holden agrees to do it. So Holden decides to write the descriptive paper about his brother Allie's baseball glove, which had poems written all over it. His brother died of leukemia and this seems to me like the only thing so far that Holden talks about without resentment and talks about his brother with compassion: "He was terrifically intelligent. His teachers were always writing letters to my mother, telling her what a pleasure it was having a boy like Allie in their class." It seems like Holden really cared about his brother and was devastated when he died because he broke all the windows with his hand: "I slept in the garage the night he died, and I broke all the goddam windows with my fist, just for the hell of it."
After reading so far I think this is a pretty funny book and I'm not even sure that was the author's intention. Just the irony and the swearing is just funny. I know this was a pretty controversial book back in the day and I can see why: there is a swear word on almost every page. Compared to books today, however, this is nothing. I also notice that when Holden is talking about something, he rambles on about something else entirely different or explains why something happened and has to constantly return back to what he was originally talking about. I can't wait to see what happens next in Holden's interesting life.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
1984 Blog 3
In the next part of 1984 the Party announces that after all this time hating Eurasia, it turns out that Eastasia was actually the enemy: "At just this moment it had been announced that Oceania was not after all at war with Eurasia. Oceania was at war with Eastasia. Eurasia was an ally." (Page 196). Within minutes of the speaker announcing this news, the crowd goes crazy and begins to hate Eastasia. Winston knows that the fact that they had hated Eurasia will be erased from history: "Although no directive was ever issued, it was known that the chiefs of the Department intended that within one week no reference to the war with Eurasia, or the alliance with Eastasia, should remain in existence anywhere." (Page 199). Winston knows he will have a lot of work to do with this change in alliance. I think it's strange that all of a sudden the people can just lose their hate for Eurasia and gain so much hate for Eastasia in a matter of minutes just because the Party tells them to.
Winston goes to the room he shares with Julia and starts to read a book by Emmanuel Goldstein called "The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism". It is about the social classes in Oceania and that there is no life without war. Goldstein says in his book that no matter what there will always be wars between the three nations: "In one combination or another, these three superstates are permanently at war, and have been so for twenty-five years." (Page 202). It's depressing that there will always be a war going on and there is absolutely no solution so the only answer is hate for the enemy country and every once in a while the alliances switch up and they become allies with the country they once despised. This cycle would get old after a while and the people are obviously so brainwashed that they can't break free from it all.
When Winston and Julia wake up they are startled by a bunch of men that have broken into their room. It turns out that they had been spied on the whole time! The men attack Winston and Julia and take Julia away. Mr. Charrington enters the room and it's revealed that he is in fact a member of the Thought Police. I always thought it was kind of strange that Mr. Charrington let Winston stay in the room that was supposedly safe and free from any telescreens without anything in return.
Winston finds himself in a cell where he is constantly being monitored. He hasn't eaten anything for a long time and wonders if they will even bother to feed him: "But he was also hungry, with a gnawing, unwholesome kind of hunger. It might be twenty-four hours since he had eaten, it might be thirty-six. He still did not know, probably never would know, whether it had been morning or evening when they arrested him. Since he was arrested he had not been fed." (Page 247). Winston couldn't even put his hand in his pocket: ""Smith!" yelled a voice from the telescreen. "6079 Smith W! Hands out of pockets in the cells!"" By the description of the cell it seems like the Party wants to torture their prisoners and make them sorry that they ever broke the law and try to go against them. They want to make it clear that they will find the rebels and make sure they are punished for their actions.
Winston goes to the room he shares with Julia and starts to read a book by Emmanuel Goldstein called "The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism". It is about the social classes in Oceania and that there is no life without war. Goldstein says in his book that no matter what there will always be wars between the three nations: "In one combination or another, these three superstates are permanently at war, and have been so for twenty-five years." (Page 202). It's depressing that there will always be a war going on and there is absolutely no solution so the only answer is hate for the enemy country and every once in a while the alliances switch up and they become allies with the country they once despised. This cycle would get old after a while and the people are obviously so brainwashed that they can't break free from it all.
When Winston and Julia wake up they are startled by a bunch of men that have broken into their room. It turns out that they had been spied on the whole time! The men attack Winston and Julia and take Julia away. Mr. Charrington enters the room and it's revealed that he is in fact a member of the Thought Police. I always thought it was kind of strange that Mr. Charrington let Winston stay in the room that was supposedly safe and free from any telescreens without anything in return.
Winston finds himself in a cell where he is constantly being monitored. He hasn't eaten anything for a long time and wonders if they will even bother to feed him: "But he was also hungry, with a gnawing, unwholesome kind of hunger. It might be twenty-four hours since he had eaten, it might be thirty-six. He still did not know, probably never would know, whether it had been morning or evening when they arrested him. Since he was arrested he had not been fed." (Page 247). Winston couldn't even put his hand in his pocket: ""Smith!" yelled a voice from the telescreen. "6079 Smith W! Hands out of pockets in the cells!"" By the description of the cell it seems like the Party wants to torture their prisoners and make them sorry that they ever broke the law and try to go against them. They want to make it clear that they will find the rebels and make sure they are punished for their actions.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
1984 Blog 2
Next in 1984 Winston goes into a bar in the prole district and starts to talk to a man about the past. He asks the man if times were different in the past: "Do you feel that you have more freedom now than you had in those days? Are you treated more like a human being?" (Page 100). The man doesn't give him a straight answer and Winston gets frustrated. Winston leaves and finds himself in front of the store in which he bought the diary. He goes inside and encounters the shopkeeper. Winston looks around a bit and decides to buy an old paperweight, which could have been suspicious: "Anything old, and for that matter anything beautiful, was always vaguely suspect." (Page 106). The shopkeeper takes Winston to a secret room, a room Winston notices doesn't have a telescreen. The shopkeeper says: "I never had one of those things. Too expensive. And I never seemed to feel the need of it, anyhow." (Page 107). The man, named Mr. Charrington, makes it seem like having a telescreen isn't required and he doesn't seem to care about not having one. Mr. Charrington recites a rhyme about churches: "Oranges and lemons, say the bells of St. Clement's, you owe me three farthings, say the bells of St. Martin's!" (Page 110). The rhyme makes Winston think of the past and what it could have been like and how different it probably was. Winston leaves the shop and notices the dark haired girl and thinks she is spying on him. He considers killing the girl: "He could keep her on track till they were in some quiet place, and then smash her skull in with a cobblestone." (Page 112). In my opinion Winston seems very paranoid. He was scared that the Party would catch him writing bad things in his diary and now he thinks that this girl is spying on him. I understand standing up to the Party and Big Brother is very risky, but if Winston wants to be rebellious he needs to man up and do it!
In Part 2 Winston goes to work and sees the girl with dark hair with an arm sling. The girl falls down and Winston helps her up. In the process the girl slips him a note. He takes the note and after a long while of debating he decides to read it. It turns out that the girl loves him, or so it says. Winston is surprised by this: "For several seconds he was too stunned even to throw the incriminating thing into the memory hole." (Page 118). I was very surprised at this turn of events. I definitely thought she was spying on him since she happened to be wherever he was and it doesn't really make sense to me that she would be in love with him, especially since they have never talked to each other before. A few days after receiving the note Winston sits at the girl's lunch table. They briefly spoke and decided to meet up in private. They met in Victory Square and agreed to meet again at a later date. I honestly think this whole situation is weird. Winston just wants the girl sexually and it's pretty gross since he's way older than her. I think Winston is a pervert and is constantly thinking about sex.
Winston and the girl finally meet up alone and basically have sex. Turns out that Julia has done it plenty of times and Winston loves her for it: "Listen. The more men you've had, the more I love you. Do you understand that?" (Page 137). This seems more like a political agenda and part of Winston's rebellion scheme to me. The two continue their affair and take up residence in the room above Mr. Charrington's shop. I'm pretty confused about what has happened so far. It doesn't make sense that Winston and Julia are an "item" now and Winston is in love with Julia because she is a whore and slept with so many members of the Party. It just shows that it's part of his hate for the Party and doesn't really have anything to do with his "love" for Julia.
In Part 2 Winston goes to work and sees the girl with dark hair with an arm sling. The girl falls down and Winston helps her up. In the process the girl slips him a note. He takes the note and after a long while of debating he decides to read it. It turns out that the girl loves him, or so it says. Winston is surprised by this: "For several seconds he was too stunned even to throw the incriminating thing into the memory hole." (Page 118). I was very surprised at this turn of events. I definitely thought she was spying on him since she happened to be wherever he was and it doesn't really make sense to me that she would be in love with him, especially since they have never talked to each other before. A few days after receiving the note Winston sits at the girl's lunch table. They briefly spoke and decided to meet up in private. They met in Victory Square and agreed to meet again at a later date. I honestly think this whole situation is weird. Winston just wants the girl sexually and it's pretty gross since he's way older than her. I think Winston is a pervert and is constantly thinking about sex.
Winston and the girl finally meet up alone and basically have sex. Turns out that Julia has done it plenty of times and Winston loves her for it: "Listen. The more men you've had, the more I love you. Do you understand that?" (Page 137). This seems more like a political agenda and part of Winston's rebellion scheme to me. The two continue their affair and take up residence in the room above Mr. Charrington's shop. I'm pretty confused about what has happened so far. It doesn't make sense that Winston and Julia are an "item" now and Winston is in love with Julia because she is a whore and slept with so many members of the Party. It just shows that it's part of his hate for the Party and doesn't really have anything to do with his "love" for Julia.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
1984 Blog 1
The book starts out telling about a man named Winston, who enters his home in Victory Mansions. He lives in a place called Airstrip One, which apparently used to be England. He believes that it is 1984 but isn't exactly sure: "To begin with, he did not know with any certainty that this was 1984." (Page 9). The narrator also describes a guy known as Big Brother, who seems to be in charge of everything. As Winston enters his house a device called a telescreen gives a news report. Telescreens watch the activity of the citizens: "You had to live-did live, from habit that became instinct-in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard, and, except in darkness, every movement scrutinized." (Page 5). He begins to write in his diary about movies, which reminded him of an incident that happened that morning. He describes the Two Minute Hate, a session where a video about a traitor named Emmanuel Goldstein is played to make the citizens angry and hate him: "A hideous ecstasy of fear and vindictiveness, a desire to kill, to torture, to smash faces in with a sledge hammer, seemed to flow through the whole group of people like an electric current, turning one even against one's will into a grimacing, screaming lunatic." (Page 17). And throughout the book so far one slogan is repeated over and over: "WAR IS PEACE FREEDOM IS SLAVERY IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH." It seems like the people live by this slogan and can't escape it: "Even from the coin the eyes pursued you. On coins, on stamps, on the covers of books, on banners, on posters, and on the wrapping of a cigarette packet--everywhere. Always the eyes watching you and the voice enveloping you." (Page 30). Winston continues to write in his diary, which is considered a bad thing: "This was not illegal (nothing was illegal, since there were no longer any laws), but if detected it was reasonably certain that it would be punished by death, or at least by twenty-five years in a forced-labor camp." (Page 9). He realizes that he keeps writing the same thing over and over: "DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER." Winston is horrified that he has written this, because the Thought Police could come after him. Someone knocks on his door and it turns out to be Mrs. Parsons, who needs help repairing her sink. He goes to her flat and her children start to harass him about his thoughts. When he returns home he freaks out and hides his diary. Winston has a dream about his mother and sister and feels somewhat responsible for their deaths: "He could not remember what happened, but he knew in his dream that in some way the lives of his mother and his sister had been sacrificed to his own." (Pages 33-34). He wakes up and it is time for Physical Jerks, a fitness program on the telescreen. Winston goes to work where he destroys old documents and updates new records. He meets with Syme for lunch and they talk about Newspeak. As they talk, Winston thinks that Syme will be vaporized: "One of these days, thought Winston with sudden deep conviction, Syme will be vaporized. He is too intelligent. He sees too clearly and speaks too plainly." (Page 59). Winston writes in his diary that he had an affair with a prostitute and how much sex is frowned upon in his world: "The unforgivable crime was promiscuity between Party members." (Page 72). Winston writes in his diary that a rebellion lies within the proles and that's the only way. He talks about how awful his world is: "The ideal set up by the Party was something huge, terrible, and glittering--a world of steel and concrete, of monstrous machines and terrifying weapons--a nation of warriors and fanatics, marching forward in perfect unity, all thinking the same thoughts and shouting the same slogans, perpetually working, fighting, triumphing, persecuting--three hundred million people all with the same face." (Page 82).
So far in the story it basically describes Winston's world and what he deals with everyday. It's pretty dark and depressing and makes the reader think about what it would be like if their life was like this. I think it's pretty interesting so far and can't wait to read what happens to Winston next.
So far in the story it basically describes Winston's world and what he deals with everyday. It's pretty dark and depressing and makes the reader think about what it would be like if their life was like this. I think it's pretty interesting so far and can't wait to read what happens to Winston next.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Twelfth Night Acts 4 and 5
Act 4 Scene 1 opens with Sebastian talking to the fool. The fool is bothering Sebastian and Sebastian just wants him to go away: "I prithee, foolish Greek, depart from me. There's money for thee. If you tarry longer, I shall give worse payment." (IV.i.18-20). Andrew and Toby enter and Andrew and Toby start fighting. Olivia enters and tells them to stop fighting: "Hold, Toby! On thy life I charge thee hold!" (IV.i.45). Sebastian is extremely confused by what is going on: "What relish is in this? How runs the stream? Or I am mad, or else this is a dream. Let fancy still my sense in Lethe steep; if it be thus to dream, still let me sleep!" (IV.i.59-63). I feel pretty bad for Sebastian. He just survived a ship wreck and arrived in this crazy town with Andrew trying to kill him and Olivia trying to hook up with him!
In Act 4 Scene 2 Maria's crazy schemes continue when she has the fool dress up as a priest to banish the demon inside Malvolio: "Out, hyperbolical fiend! How vexest thou this man! Talkest thou nothing but of ladies?" (IV.ii.26-27). Malvolio rants about how everyone hates him and makes him look like an idiot: "And I say, there was never a man thus abused." (IV.ii.47-48). The fool takes off the costume and talks to Malvolio. Malvolio denies that he is crazy: "I am as well in my wits, fool, as thou art." (IV.ii.91). Malvolio asks for the fool's help in sending a letter to Olivia: "Good fool, some ink, paper, and light; and convey what I will set down to my lady." (IV.ii.112-114). I actually understand now why Maria plays so many pranks on Malvolio. He is incredibly cocky and desperate! He won't seem to take no for an answer and is acting creepy. Hopefully Olivia sets him straight.
Act 4 Scene 3 Sebastian and Olivia pretty much get engaged: "If you mean well, now go with me and with this holy man into the chantry by." (IV.iii.22-24). I think this is absolutely ridiculous! Sebastian has known her for maybe a day and already wants to marry the woman! Everyone in this play seems to be insane!
In Act 5 Scene 1 Antonio arrives in Orsino's court and explains how he saved Sebastian's life. Olivia arrives and talks about her and Cesario's wedding, which Viola is completely surprised and confused by: "Who does beguile you? Who does do you wrong?" (V.i.139-140). Olivia keeps insisting that they are married and has the priest come and prove it: "A contract of eternal bond of love, confirmed by mutual joinder of your hands, attested by the holy close of lips, strength'ned by interchangement of your rings." (V.i.156-159). Of course Orsino gets angry at Viola: "Farewell, and take her; but direct thy feet where thou and I, henceforth, may never meet." (V.i.168-169). Andrew comes in and says that Cesario stabbed Toby and once again Viola is confused. Sebastian enters and everyone is shocked that there are two Sebastians/ Cesarios: "An apple cleft in two is not more twin than these two creatures. Which is Sebastian?" (V.i.222-224). Viola and Sebastian ask each other about who they are and come to realize that they are brother and sister. Orsino discovers that Viola is actually a woman and decides to marry her. Fabian admits that he, Toby, Andrew and Maria played a prank on Malvolio and Malvolio declares that he will get revenge. I guess this play ended happily, but I still think it's really strange that everyone fell in love within hours of meeting the person. It's also weird that Orsino is in-laws with Olivia, the woman he wanted to marry. The fool seemed to be in more of the play than any of the others and he seemed more sane than the others as well. This play was extremely crazy, but I do admit there were some pretty funny parts in it.
In Act 4 Scene 2 Maria's crazy schemes continue when she has the fool dress up as a priest to banish the demon inside Malvolio: "Out, hyperbolical fiend! How vexest thou this man! Talkest thou nothing but of ladies?" (IV.ii.26-27). Malvolio rants about how everyone hates him and makes him look like an idiot: "And I say, there was never a man thus abused." (IV.ii.47-48). The fool takes off the costume and talks to Malvolio. Malvolio denies that he is crazy: "I am as well in my wits, fool, as thou art." (IV.ii.91). Malvolio asks for the fool's help in sending a letter to Olivia: "Good fool, some ink, paper, and light; and convey what I will set down to my lady." (IV.ii.112-114). I actually understand now why Maria plays so many pranks on Malvolio. He is incredibly cocky and desperate! He won't seem to take no for an answer and is acting creepy. Hopefully Olivia sets him straight.
Act 4 Scene 3 Sebastian and Olivia pretty much get engaged: "If you mean well, now go with me and with this holy man into the chantry by." (IV.iii.22-24). I think this is absolutely ridiculous! Sebastian has known her for maybe a day and already wants to marry the woman! Everyone in this play seems to be insane!
In Act 5 Scene 1 Antonio arrives in Orsino's court and explains how he saved Sebastian's life. Olivia arrives and talks about her and Cesario's wedding, which Viola is completely surprised and confused by: "Who does beguile you? Who does do you wrong?" (V.i.139-140). Olivia keeps insisting that they are married and has the priest come and prove it: "A contract of eternal bond of love, confirmed by mutual joinder of your hands, attested by the holy close of lips, strength'ned by interchangement of your rings." (V.i.156-159). Of course Orsino gets angry at Viola: "Farewell, and take her; but direct thy feet where thou and I, henceforth, may never meet." (V.i.168-169). Andrew comes in and says that Cesario stabbed Toby and once again Viola is confused. Sebastian enters and everyone is shocked that there are two Sebastians/ Cesarios: "An apple cleft in two is not more twin than these two creatures. Which is Sebastian?" (V.i.222-224). Viola and Sebastian ask each other about who they are and come to realize that they are brother and sister. Orsino discovers that Viola is actually a woman and decides to marry her. Fabian admits that he, Toby, Andrew and Maria played a prank on Malvolio and Malvolio declares that he will get revenge. I guess this play ended happily, but I still think it's really strange that everyone fell in love within hours of meeting the person. It's also weird that Orsino is in-laws with Olivia, the woman he wanted to marry. The fool seemed to be in more of the play than any of the others and he seemed more sane than the others as well. This play was extremely crazy, but I do admit there were some pretty funny parts in it.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Twelfth Night Act 3
In Act 3 Scene 1 Viola and the fool have a very "deep" conversation about words. I honestly didn't understand the point of this part of the scene and why it was necessary to the play. Viola talks to Olivia trying to make Olivia fall in love with Orsino: "Madam, I come to whet your gentle thoughts on his behalf." (III.i.107-108). Olivia tells Cesario that she is in love with him: "By maidhood, honor, truth, and everything, I love thee so that, maugre all thy pride, nor wit nor reason can my passion hide." (III.i.152-154). Viola finally sets her straight and tells her she does not love her back: "By innocence I swear, and by my youth, I have one heart, one bosom, and one truth, and that no woman has; nor never none shall mistress be of it, save I alone." (III.i.159-162). Olivia doesn't seem to give up hope: "Yet come again; for thou perhaps mayst move that heart which now abhors to like his love." (III.i.165-166). Olivia is pretty psycho inmy opinion. Cesario flat out tells her that he will never love her and she still seems to have hope that he'll come around. Talk about desperate!
In Act 3 Scene 2 Andrew is bummed because he saw Olivia flirting with Cesario: "Marry, I saw your niece do more favors to the Count's servingman than ever she bestowed upon me. I saw't i' th' orchard." (III.ii.5-7). Toby and Fabian tell Andrew to challenge Cesario to a fight: "Why then, build me thy fortunes upon the basis of valor. Challenge me the Count's youth to fight with him; hurt him in eleven places." (III.ii.34-36). Andrew decides to write a letter for Toby to give to Cesario. Then Maria enters and tells Toby and Fabian to watch her prank go into action: "If you desire the spleen, and will laugh yourself into stitches, follow me." (III.ii.68-69). I don't understand why Toby is playing a prank on Andrew with yet another letter but I guess it would be pretty entertaining to watch Andrew fight a guy who is really a girl.
In Act 3 Scene 3 Antonio and Sebastian are travelling and Sebastian wants to see some of the sights but Antonio can't: "I do not without danger walk these streets." (III.iii.25). Antonio tells Sebastian to meet him at the Elephant Inn. I think this scene was pretty short and boring, but I think it was necessary for an update on Sebastian.
In Act 3 Scene 4 Olivia is setting up for dinner when Malvolio enters all lovestruck: "Why appear you with this ridiculous boldness before my lady?" (III.iv.38-39). Malvolio starts quoting the letter he thinks Olivia wrote to him and Olivia, naturally, is confused. Cesario arrives and Olivia tells Maria to take care of Malvolio and the funny thing is that Malvolio thinks that everything is going according to plan: "Why, everything adheres together, that no dram of a scruple, no scruple of a scruple, no obstacle, no incredulous or unsafe circumstances--what can be said?" (III.iv.82-85). Fabian, Maria and Toby have some fun by picking on Malvolio and acting like there is a demon inside him. Andrew enters and gives Toby the letter he wrote: "Here's the challenge; read it. I warrant there's vinegar and pepper in't." (III.iv.149-150). Toby tells Cesario that Andrew wants to fight him, Cesario doesn't want to but draws his sword anyway and Antonio interrupts, thinking that Cesario is Sebastian, which makes Viola believe that her brother is alive. This scene was very important to the play and I'm anxious to see if Viola discovers her brother and what will happen if she does.
In Act 3 Scene 2 Andrew is bummed because he saw Olivia flirting with Cesario: "Marry, I saw your niece do more favors to the Count's servingman than ever she bestowed upon me. I saw't i' th' orchard." (III.ii.5-7). Toby and Fabian tell Andrew to challenge Cesario to a fight: "Why then, build me thy fortunes upon the basis of valor. Challenge me the Count's youth to fight with him; hurt him in eleven places." (III.ii.34-36). Andrew decides to write a letter for Toby to give to Cesario. Then Maria enters and tells Toby and Fabian to watch her prank go into action: "If you desire the spleen, and will laugh yourself into stitches, follow me." (III.ii.68-69). I don't understand why Toby is playing a prank on Andrew with yet another letter but I guess it would be pretty entertaining to watch Andrew fight a guy who is really a girl.
In Act 3 Scene 3 Antonio and Sebastian are travelling and Sebastian wants to see some of the sights but Antonio can't: "I do not without danger walk these streets." (III.iii.25). Antonio tells Sebastian to meet him at the Elephant Inn. I think this scene was pretty short and boring, but I think it was necessary for an update on Sebastian.
In Act 3 Scene 4 Olivia is setting up for dinner when Malvolio enters all lovestruck: "Why appear you with this ridiculous boldness before my lady?" (III.iv.38-39). Malvolio starts quoting the letter he thinks Olivia wrote to him and Olivia, naturally, is confused. Cesario arrives and Olivia tells Maria to take care of Malvolio and the funny thing is that Malvolio thinks that everything is going according to plan: "Why, everything adheres together, that no dram of a scruple, no scruple of a scruple, no obstacle, no incredulous or unsafe circumstances--what can be said?" (III.iv.82-85). Fabian, Maria and Toby have some fun by picking on Malvolio and acting like there is a demon inside him. Andrew enters and gives Toby the letter he wrote: "Here's the challenge; read it. I warrant there's vinegar and pepper in't." (III.iv.149-150). Toby tells Cesario that Andrew wants to fight him, Cesario doesn't want to but draws his sword anyway and Antonio interrupts, thinking that Cesario is Sebastian, which makes Viola believe that her brother is alive. This scene was very important to the play and I'm anxious to see if Viola discovers her brother and what will happen if she does.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Twelfth Night Act 2
In Act 2 Scene 1 of Twelfth Night Antonio and Sebastian, Viola's twin brother, are talking. Sebastian thinks his twin sister drowned: "But you, sir, altered that, for some hour before you took me from the breach of the sea was my sister drowned." (II.i.21-23). This is ironic because Viola thinksher brother is dead but he is obviously alive. Sebastian decides to go to Orsino's court.
In Act 2 Scene 2 Malvolio gives Viola/Cesario a ring from Olivia. Viola is confused by this and hopes that Olivia hasn't fallen for her: "I left no ring for her. What means this lady? Fortune forbid my outside have not charmed her." (II.ii.17-18). Viola realizes she has a problem: the duke loves Olivia, Olivia loves Cesario and Viola loves the duke. It seems like quite the love triangle. The strange part is that all of these people are in love with people that they barely even know.
In Act 3 Scene 3 Toby and Andrew ask the fool to sing love songs. Pretty soon Andrew and Toby join in and they are all acting like idiots. Malvolio comes in and tells them to shut up or leave: "If not, and it would please you to take leave of her, she is very willing to bid you farewell." (II.iii.99-101). Toby, Andrew and Maria then start to gossip about Malvolio: "Possess us, possess us. Tell us something of him." (II.iii.138-139) and "Marry, sir, sometimes he is a kind of Puritan." (II.iii.140). Maria decides she wants to get revenge on Malvolio: "He shall think, by the letters that thou will drop, that they will come from my niece, and that she's in love with him." (II.iii.164-166). I thought this scene was pretty ridiculous and unnecessary. Andrew, Toby and the fool start singing about love, Malvolio tells them to shut up and Maria decides to play a prank on Malvolio. What did Malvolio do to her, anyway?
In Act 2 Scene 4 Orsino and Cesario talk about love. Orsino asks if Cesario has ever been in love: "My life upon't, young though thou art, thine eye hath stayed upon some favor that it loves. Hath it not, boy?" (II.iv.22-24). Viola hints around that she loves the duke by saying that she loves someone like the duke and the same age. Orsino asks Cesario to talk to Olivia again and he refuses to take no for an answer: "I cannot be so answered." (II.iv.89). Viola tries to talk him out of loving Olivia if she doesn't love him back, but ends up taking a jewel to Olivia to show Orsino's love: "Give her this jewel. Say my love can give no place, bide no denay." (II.iv.125). I think Orsino is being a little creepy. I'm pretty sure that if Olivia says no the first time she isn't going to magically change her mind after receiving a jewel from him. I have to give him credit for his determination, though.
In Act 2 Scene 5 Toby, Andrew and Maria watch Maria's plan go into action. They hide and Malvolio walks by imagining what it would be like to marry Olivia. He discovers the love letter and reads it out loud. He thinks Olivia loves him: "She did commend my yellow stockings of late, she did praise my leg being cross-gartered, and in this she manifests herself to my love, and with a kind of injunction, drives me to the habits of her liking." (II.v.166-170). Malvolio decides to go after Olivia and Andrew, Toby and Maria want to see him make a fool out of himself. I'm not really sure why they pulled a prank on Malvolio other than the fact that he is an egotistical jerk, but it's a pretty good prank nonetheless. I'm curious to see what happens to Malvolio!
In Act 2 Scene 2 Malvolio gives Viola/Cesario a ring from Olivia. Viola is confused by this and hopes that Olivia hasn't fallen for her: "I left no ring for her. What means this lady? Fortune forbid my outside have not charmed her." (II.ii.17-18). Viola realizes she has a problem: the duke loves Olivia, Olivia loves Cesario and Viola loves the duke. It seems like quite the love triangle. The strange part is that all of these people are in love with people that they barely even know.
In Act 3 Scene 3 Toby and Andrew ask the fool to sing love songs. Pretty soon Andrew and Toby join in and they are all acting like idiots. Malvolio comes in and tells them to shut up or leave: "If not, and it would please you to take leave of her, she is very willing to bid you farewell." (II.iii.99-101). Toby, Andrew and Maria then start to gossip about Malvolio: "Possess us, possess us. Tell us something of him." (II.iii.138-139) and "Marry, sir, sometimes he is a kind of Puritan." (II.iii.140). Maria decides she wants to get revenge on Malvolio: "He shall think, by the letters that thou will drop, that they will come from my niece, and that she's in love with him." (II.iii.164-166). I thought this scene was pretty ridiculous and unnecessary. Andrew, Toby and the fool start singing about love, Malvolio tells them to shut up and Maria decides to play a prank on Malvolio. What did Malvolio do to her, anyway?
In Act 2 Scene 4 Orsino and Cesario talk about love. Orsino asks if Cesario has ever been in love: "My life upon't, young though thou art, thine eye hath stayed upon some favor that it loves. Hath it not, boy?" (II.iv.22-24). Viola hints around that she loves the duke by saying that she loves someone like the duke and the same age. Orsino asks Cesario to talk to Olivia again and he refuses to take no for an answer: "I cannot be so answered." (II.iv.89). Viola tries to talk him out of loving Olivia if she doesn't love him back, but ends up taking a jewel to Olivia to show Orsino's love: "Give her this jewel. Say my love can give no place, bide no denay." (II.iv.125). I think Orsino is being a little creepy. I'm pretty sure that if Olivia says no the first time she isn't going to magically change her mind after receiving a jewel from him. I have to give him credit for his determination, though.
In Act 2 Scene 5 Toby, Andrew and Maria watch Maria's plan go into action. They hide and Malvolio walks by imagining what it would be like to marry Olivia. He discovers the love letter and reads it out loud. He thinks Olivia loves him: "She did commend my yellow stockings of late, she did praise my leg being cross-gartered, and in this she manifests herself to my love, and with a kind of injunction, drives me to the habits of her liking." (II.v.166-170). Malvolio decides to go after Olivia and Andrew, Toby and Maria want to see him make a fool out of himself. I'm not really sure why they pulled a prank on Malvolio other than the fact that he is an egotistical jerk, but it's a pretty good prank nonetheless. I'm curious to see what happens to Malvolio!
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