NRJ #2

In the novel, Ishiguro uses symbolism to demonstrate that self-identity is incredibly fragile. In the beginning of the novel, art is used to identify who the students really are and if they had souls at all. The students of Hailsham find pride in their art and it reassures them that their art truly illustrates who they really are. Individuality is also very important to Kathy. When talking about her secret Judy Bridgewater tape she claims “maybe we all had little secrets like that – little private nooks created of thin air where we could go off along with our fears and belongings.” (74). She claims that everyone has their own secrets so no one could possibly be the same. Kathy yearns to be individual and not like the rest of her friends. However, at the end of the novel, Kathy and Tommy never doubted their self-identity and truly believed they had souls. When Miss Emily tells Tommy and Kathy the guardians had the students create art to reveal their souls, Kathy questions Miss Emily by saying “Why did you have to prove a thing like that, Miss Emily? Did someone think that we didn’t have souls?” (260). Kathy and Tommy both were shocked that their souls and individuality were even a question. Not only is self-individuality important in our society, but it is also important to these students at Hailsham. No matter what and who we are, everyone seeks to obtain their own individuality.

NRJ #1

In the novel, Never Let Me Go, Ishiguro uses character to illustrate how fate can make or break a person. The characters Kathy, Ruth, Tommy, and all the students at Hailsham all have the same fate.  However, it is whether they truly accept it or not. In the beginning of the book, they have all learned to accept what they’re meant to do in life. Although they know what they’re meant to do, they still wonder about their possible futures. Some students want to become actors or actresses in America. However, Miss Lucy says “none of you will go to America, none of you will become film stars.”(Ishiguro 81). These donors know that they’re not going to decide what their fate is going to be like but they believe there is still a chance. Further in the book, Ruth decides that her fate could end up being like her “possible.” Since her possible worked in an office, Ruth could see herself doing the same. Kathy states “Ruth began telling us about the sort of office she ideally would work in..” (Ishiguro 144). When she found out her possible really wasn’t her, she decided her true fate was to be a donor. She realized she couldn’t change her fate and it broke her. However, Kathy always knew her fate was to be a donor. At the end of the novel, she felt peace at where she was with her life because she had the memories of Tommy and Ruth with her. For these students at Hailsham, fate is already decided for them. However, the way they accept it can truly hurt them or help them in the future. 

DRJ #3: Othello, Act III

My initial reaction while reading this act was very shocked. I couldn’t believe how Iago was planting all these different thoughts of Cassio and Desdemona into Othello’s head. He instigates everything! In this act, Othello reminds me of this one girl in high school who would believe anything and was insecure about herself. She always thought she wasn’t good enough for anyone and believed a lot of things people told her.

Although Othello is great and valiant in the battlefield, he is very insecure about himself. Since Othello is not from the same origin as everyone else and has a different background his insecurities about himself gets the best of him.  In the third act, Iago’s plan to destroy Othello starts to build up. When Iago is alone with Othello, he starts initiating these thoughts about Desdemona having an affair with Cassio.  When Othello hears all of this, his mind starts to doubt about whether he is truly right for Desdemona. He says “haply, for I am black and have not those soft parts of conversation..” (III.III.263). Sine he is so different from all the other guys he is questioning himself and his marriage with Desdemona. He questions why Desdemona would ever choose him as a husband.

Shakespeare uses characterization through Othello to portray how insecurities can take a huge toll on one’s life and their relationships. Othello’s insecurities about his race and his background really question’s his love and marriage with Desdemona. Although he never showed his insecurities in the beginning of the play, maybe he was thinking about his differences from every one else and was too arrogant to show it. 

BEC CCTWQ #8 Alice Walker, Roselily

He is ready for this new stage. He is ready to take her in and support her and treasure her. Everything and anything will be done for her. He will give her what she always wanted: freedom. Freedom to have a new life and to just relax. Freedom for her to stay at home and not have to worry about working! He cannot wait. He leans in for that passionate and wonderful kiss from his new bride. While everyone shouts and cheers for the newlyweds, he hopes for everyone to accept the fact that he is not a Christian. He wants to fit in. While walking through the crowd he feels like he is ready for this new journey with her. But is she really ready?

DRJ #2: Othello, Act II

While reading through this Act, Cassio really reminded me of my friend. He’s a really good guy with the right intentions and everyone loves him! However, he sometimes falls into peer pressure and sometimes gets stuck in stupid drama that has nothing to do with him.

Unlike Iago, Cassio truly loves and adores Othello. When Cassio gets drunk and starts a fight with Montano, Othello takes Cassio’s position away as lieutenant. He is deeply hurt by this and is very worried about his reputation. Although he got drunk and fought with an innocent man, he took responsibility for his actions. He blamed no one even though Iago pressured him into getting drunk. I think that Cassio is uses as a foiling character to oppose Iago’s defiant character. While Cassio is very honest, Iago is very deceiving.

The reoccurrence of loyalty through Cassio illustrates how this can really make or break a relationship. Cassio is very loyal to Othello. He loves him and cares for his safety. For example, when Cassio loses Othello during the storm he says “Oh, let the heavens give him defense against the elements.” He also cares for his relationship between him and Desdemona. He says to Montano, “Great Jove, Othello guard,and swell his sail with thine own powerful breath, that he may bless this bay with his tall ship, make love’s quick pants in Desdemona’s arms.” Since these two have been friends for such a long time, Cassio’s loyalty will always be toward Cassio. Although that Othello believes that Cassio is not loyal to him anymore, Cassio wants to plead his case to Desdemona so he can gain that trust and loyalty back from Othello. 

DRJ #2: Othello, Act I

Iago’s character definitely reminds me of a girl I knew in high school. She would always be jealous of someone if she couldn’t get her way and would be furious if something did not go right. Just like Iago, she was very manipulative and deceiving.

                Iago is definitely the antagonist character. He will try to cause pain in anyone he can. He is mad at Othello for giving his lieutenant position to Cassio who he feels is not worthy for the job. He will manipulate anyone to get what he wants. As the antagonist, he definitely causes conflict intentionally.  For example, he uses Rodrigo’s love for Desdemona to set up a bad reputation for Othello. He likes to have others working to serve him and to do what he wants them to do. His ultimate goal is to take down Othello and he’ll hurt anyone even Desdemona, Rodrigo, and his own wife to take him down.

                Shakespeare portrays the element of jealousy and hatred through the character of Iago. He is trying to illustrate that jealousy can destroy anyone.  He is so jealous that Cassio was chosen to be Othello’s lieutenant instead of him. Because of this, his hatred to Othello is shown. Through Iago’s character, he manipulates Rodrigo into giving Othello a bad reputation to Brabantio. His hatred for Othello makes him think that destroying anyone would be acceptable if it also hurts Othello. 

SSRJ 2: Walker

When I was reading the first paragraph of this story, I thought that this guy was horrible. How could he do such things? But then again I felt really sorry for him. I’m sure there are many men today who have experience the Vietnam War that feel the way he felt. While the story progressed, I could understand why he felt so guilty and ashamed of what he had done in the past.

In Daly Walkers, “I am the Grass”, he describes a man’s tragic story in the Vietnam War. His experiences in the war included torturing and harming innocent natives. All these terrible memories have been haunting him for the past twenty years and does not feel like he could share these memories with his wife and daughter. He decides to go to medical school and become a doctor. He travels to Vietnam to do surgery on kids but really hopes to repair the damage he has done in the past. While he’s there, he meets another surgeon, Dinh, who has also served in the war and they both create a special connection with each other. Dinh has lost both of his thumbs in the war and had asked the surgeon to repair them but the operation failed.

On literary element that stands out in this story is setting. Setting plays a major role in this story in order for the readers to better understand. On the surgeon’s flight to Vietnam he describes the setting in great detail. “I see a green patchwork of paddies and fields of grass, dirt roads whose iron-red dust choked me, whose mud caked my jungle boots.” Every aspect of Vietnam reminds him of the war. “I climb out of the van and stand, looking at acres of elephant grass blasted by the tropical sun. I think of Long Binh when it was an enormous military base, a sandbag city of tents, barbed wire, and bunkers.”  The setting described in great detail triggers the surgeon’s memory of his horrible past. While out to dinner with Dinh, he describes how Vietnam seems so serene now. “I gaze out at Long Binh’s grass. It ripples in hot wind like folds of silk.” The use of setting in this story attracts the reader to be more intrigued. If the story had been told from a different place it would not have the same effect.

What is the real symbolism of the failure of Dinh’s thumb repair surgery?