Unit 9. Post 4.

My Mistress' Eyes by William Shakespeare. 

This poem is hard to get a read on. I think that in the beginning, the speaker is pointing out the flaws that his mistress possesses. However, by the end, the speaker admits that despite all the imperfections, he still loves her for what she is. This poem seems to be a response to the poem Barbie Doll in that the speaker is disregarding all the judgement that he is making about his mistress.  While in Barbie Doll the character was consumed by her flaws to the point of self mutilation  the speaker in this poem seems to suggest that all of her flaws are what make her special. Who knows, I might be missing the mark completely, but that is what you get when you don't understand completely what is being said. 

"I grant I never saw a goddess go" (Shakespeare, line 11).

Another off the cuff idea is that the speaker is trying to reason why he is with this woman. Not sure if this is within the cone of meaning, but it seems that he is arguing with himself, pointing out all of the flaws, and then redacting his criticisms by saying he still loves her. Just a theory.

Unit 9. Post 3.

Barbie Doll by Marge Piercy. 

This poem tells a dark and rather realistic story with an extreme end. Commercialism today emphasizes flaws that women have and how the world today teaches women to be passive. The beginning creates the image of the dolls that pee and the mini kitchen set, which is very in line with the ideas of the 50's, that women were made to cook and mother children. 

The extreme in this poem is the woman's response to the criticism, she cut off her nose and legs to rid herself of the imperfections that others saw in her. 

"To every woman a happy ending" (Piercy, line 25).

This poem like the previous two stories, highlights a stereotype that is present in the real world. That is that women are expected to be pretty and do their duty as a woman, something that sounds absurd to the ear, but if you look at the material world, toys for women are essentially raising girls to cook and take care of children. Scary right. 

This seems to be a poem to inspire girls to resist the material world and the judgement of others. 

Unit 9. Post 2.

Jury of her Peers by Susan Glaspell.

This story, like Hunters in the Snow, stereotypes the female gender. This story exemplifies female comradeship in the end when the two women decide to hide the dead bird so that Mrs. Wright would not be judged as harshly. This story also stereotypes the male gender as disrespectful to females and uncaring of women's opinions. The women in this story present the stereotype that women gossip about everything. 

"When they spoke now it was as if they were afraid of what they were saying, but if they could not help saying it" (Glaspell, 422).

The women seem to do nothing more than gossip about the woman who murdered her husband the entire story. The men, oblivious to the fact that their wives were investigating the murder in their own way, disregard any idea or comment that the women have to tell them. The gender type casting in this story seems to resonate with early twentieth century logic, that women belonged doing chores, and men belonged doing any real work. The suspense was created in the story by the women coming up with their own ideas over why the murder took place, and the answer was not revealed until the end of the story. 

Unit 9. Post 1.

Hunters in the Snow by Tobias Wolff.

"'Next thing you'll be wearing a nightgown, Frank. Selling flowers at the airport'" (Wolff, 188)

This story was absolutely hysterical to me. This story exemplifies the stereotypical male characters in such a perfect way that it makes it funny. Frank, the peace loving guy, who loves younger women. Kenny, the angry guy who has no feelings. Lastly, Tub, the fat guy that pretends to be happy but who's insecurities are eating him alive. All three of these characterizations represent a stereotypical male gender role in today's society.

The author did a great job of making an example of male bonding and how the men relate to one another. From personal experience, I can say it is pretty accurate to the real world and how men talk and relate to one another. The setting of what the guys are going to do is excellent for stereotyping the male gender. What better way to exploit the over manliness of the situation then by putting the characters on a hunting trip.

This story also revealed that men have much more under the skin than most people think. Tub and Frank both battle with their own demons which shows dynamics within their characters.

Othello Post 8.

Othello the Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare.

Act V. Scene ii.

Ah, much like the Shakespearean tragedy we all know and love, not many people come out of the story alive. Cassio and Roderigo are presumed dead, Bianca is out of the picture, and in this scene I would not be surprised if Othello and Desdemona both bit the bullet. 

"Thou hast not half that power to do me harm as I have to be Hurt. O gull! O dolt! As ignorant as dirt! Thous hast done a deed II care not for thy sword, I'll make thee known, through I lost twenty lives" (V. ii. 161-164)

Here we witness Desdemona die just before Emilia comes in to accuse her husband Iago of lying to Othello. Othello, believing Iago to be honest, disbelieves Emilia and threatens to kill her too. EVERYBODY gets threatened to be killed in this story apparently. 

Then enters Iago, and gets questioned. His answers are clever and free him of any real guilt. Iago defends himself with the argument that he gave nothing more than his speculation and thought and left it up to Othello to decide what was true. 

Emilia reveals Iago's whole plot to everybody and it appears that things will not go well for Iago until Iago stabs Emilia and leaves. Cassio is apparently hanging in there at the end and in a ironic twist, Iago is taken prisoner. 

For Iago, everything seemed to be going according to plan, until Emilia unraveled it all. It turns that Iago did not even make it out of his plan. 

Final Death Toll

Desdemona

Emilia

Roderigo

Cassio, mortally wounded.

Brabantio, it was mentioned in there.

Finally, justice is served to Iago, a sick and twisted villain. 

Othello Post 7.

Othello the Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare.

Act V. Scene i.

Finally, Iago gets his hands dirty, well kind of. The beginning of this scene is a battle between Roderigo and Cassio where Iago wants Roderigo to kill Cassio as part of his brilliant and devious plan. Like I said, this is really the first time Iago causes direct and deliberate physical harm to anyone, other than the handkerchief thing which was in a way him doing something deliberately. Anyway, Iago slashes Cassio in the back of the leg and then leaves the scene for Roderigo to finish Cassio off. What happens next? Iago comes to the rescue as an innocent and helpful first-responder. This guy is so two faced it is impressive. After responding to Cassio's cries, he kills Roderigo!

All bets are off as to who survives now. Iago kills his friends, his enemies, upsets relationships that had nothing to do with the original problem, takes money, and lies like a politician.

"Oh damned Iago! Oh, inhuman dog!" (V. i. 62)

Ok, so Iago is perhaps the most evil person I have learned about. His actions might as well have been done by the devil himself!

Othello Post 6.

Othello the Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare.

Act IV. scene ii, iii.

This is where we see the most change in Othello and where we see Iago's plan being put into plan. We witness Othello question Emilia about Desdemona's affair with Cassio. Emilia denies any activity between the two, which infuriates Othello. My psychological analysis of Othello is that he feels backed into a corner with everybody against him, which makes him react with irrational, misdirected anger. The Othello we see in act four is worlds different from the stoic and reserved Othello of act one. Another change we see in Othello is his more direct questioning to Emilia and Desdemona, whereas in previous acts, Othello never directly asked anybody other than Iago about Desdemona.

"Heaven truly knows that thou art false as Hell" (IV. ii. 39).

The foreshadowing that is seen in these scenes is very precise in depicting Iago's plan. In scene three, Iago tells Roderigo to kill Cassio after midnight.

Everyone is confounded by Othello's unreasoning behavior. Iago's plan is all falling into place.

Iago is now at the top of my list of evil. His is a special kind of evil, an evil that destroys love and builds hatred, without any direct physical action... Brilliant!