Spider Web Discussion

The Act 2: Scene 2 Spider Web Discussion that we had in class today was very interesting and allowed me to think about Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, in a whole new way. Overall as a class we really delved into the true meaning of both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's lines. We touched upon, not only Act 2, but the book as a whole. Although we did do a good job in discussing several different topics, I do think that at times we were all over the place. For example when someone would ask a question, that specific question never really was answered, rather than just agreed with or questioned further. We do have room to grow as a class, and so do I as an individual. I definetly could have contributed to the conversation more. I find it hard to know when it is the right time to throw out my ideas. Once I have an idea by the time there is a pause in the conversation the idea that I had had would no longer relate to the new topic. Again, this is what I need to work on as an individual, but as a class maybe focusing on one clear idea might help the discussion flow better. Once again, I think we all did well and am excited to see how we improve during our discussion on Things Fall Apart in April. 

Macbeth 2.1

How do Macbeth's words contrast to his true feelings in this scene? Support your answer with a specific detail from the text. 

The character of Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare, is a confused man who speaks of things that his body and future supposed fortune does not agree with. For example, during Macbeth's soliloquy in Act 1: Scene 2 he says, "Mine eyes are made the fools o' th' other senses." (2.1.56). This quote demonstrates how Macbeth is seeing things or hallucinating images that he cannot touch or smell or hear. His mind is trying to tell him of the things that shouldn't be done, but Macbeth and his body dismiss these messages. Another example of this is when he states that, "And, on thy blade and dudgeon, gouts of blood, Which was not so before. There's no such thing." Macbeth simply puts away the slightest chance that these things that he is seeing are real or may mean something. Is this because he knows what he is doing is unjust or because he does not understand who's blood he was seeing, blood of the King or of himself? Macbeth may disagree with the words that he speaks, but these words do not contrast from his true feelings because they are the truth in which he understands. Everything Macbeth says and sees is real but whether or not he believes in and acts upon these things ultimately decides his fate, therefore foreshadowing Macbeth's future. 

Anthem Chapter 2 Response

In the book Anthem, by Ayn Rand, the idea behind relationships is non existent. The people of this society grow up without parents or friends (let alone of another gender). Relationships are not present in the lives of these people, or atleast not virbally. In chapter 2, Equality 7-2521 is beginning to change his own rules regarding friendship and love, through the use of his own knowledge and human nature. For example during his routine day sweeping the road near the mile marker, Equality 7-2521 spotted a women in the feild of whom he admired, and said "There was no smile on their face, and no welcome...Then they turned as swiftly, and they walked away from us." (Rand, 40). This quote describes how most people are just going through the motions, not really paying attention to the people around them or even acknowledging them. But, this is the start to Equality 7- 2521's new found relationship with Liberty 5-3000. After the first acquaintance, the chapter continues to talk about the mating process. It is described that all women over the age of 18 and all the men over the age of 20 are to meet at the City Palace of Mating for one night, and one night only. Each man is paired with one women for the night. And after that night they do not speak to or of one another. This is then repeated every eight months. Equality 7- 2521's plan was to meet Libery 5-3000 that night, but then he learned that she is only 17. Even with this knowledge he still plans to meet her at the City Palacep of Mating. This thought and deceiving spirit is what separates Equality 7-2521 from the others, and how his relationship with Liberty 5- 3000 may even turn into a relationship. This can be shown when he says, "We felt our lips drawn tight with hatred, a sudden hatred for all our brother men. And the Golden One saw it and smiled slowly, and this was the first sadness we had seen in them." (45). This quote is the moment in which both Equality and Liberty realize the unfairness of the government. The realization that the ability to love and to be loved is being taken away from them. They are willing to break the law on account of this new feeling, they are sad and angry at their piers for not doing something about their will to love being stolen. So, when relationships are discussed in Anthem it is hard to have a direct answer due to the fact that the slightest idea of relationships is only bring created. 

Lost v.s. Lord of the Flies

Lord of the Flies by William Golding and ABC's Lost, created by Jeffery Lieber, have characters and an over all theme that directly correlate with one another. Firstly, Ralph from Lord of the Flies and Jack Shepherd from Lost both have personality traits such as leadership and responsibility that give the people around them hope and trust. Both were appointed chief or leader at the beginning of their journeys on the islands. The similarities between these two go beyond the obvious connection of being the leader. Jack and Ralph both become aggrivated and overwhelmed with their new roles. Ralph starts to give up towards the climax of the book when Jack and his tribe leave him behind, and Jack Shepherd starts to question why people assumed he should be the one to lead them lead them. Another example of similar characters are Kate and Piggy. Kate gets attached to Jack and admires his ability to push out fear and take charge in finding a way to get rescued and keep the group safe. Piggy does this with Ralph in the way that he is always following him around and shapes himself after Ralph's survival instincts and leadership. Both characters find themselves lost without the structure and rules of society but then seem to find themselves under the protection of Jack Shepherd and Ralph.

The theme of both depictions of what happens to humans when they are isolated from society, revolves around the idea that the background and personality of each person combined with mob mentality can effect who and what people become in isolation. The majority of both groups at the beginning of their stories find themselves searching for a way out. But, John Locke and Jack find themselves getting comfortable in the island, they both enjoy who they are on the island. John who used to be in a wheel chair, unable to walk, now has working limbs again. Jack, who before the accident always yearned for the power that adults never gave him, now had the strength and power to rule over all without getting told "no". As one can see people's pasts can change how they react to the change of scenery. One cannot pin point what happens to a human when taken away from civilization, due to the fact that not every person comes from the same kind of life and not everyone has the same morals and personalities.

Cry of the Hunters

In chapter 12 in Lord of the Flies, the end of the book, readers finally get to experience the reality that these savages are actually children. Ralph breaks down at the end because he was tired of keeping it all inside. His anger, sadness and desperassion were eating him alive, but now he could finally let all his emotions out. He was not only crying for himself, but for Piggy and Simon, who didn't live to be rescused. Ralph was crying because he finally got what he had wanted the whole time, although he got lost along the way his morals were always intact. From the moment Ralph stepped foot on this dreadful island he became the strongest person among the group. Jack seemed to think he was, but one may believe that through all of his weaknesses Ralph stayed the toughest. He never truly let his guard down in front of the other boys, they never saw him cry and they never saw him give up. Down to the last moment before they arrived at the beach, even when the savages were chasing Ralph, hungry for his blood, he didn't show weakness. But, now he could. Ralph didn't have to be the adult anymore, he didn't have to be strong. When Goulding describes his breakdown as shown trough this passage; "The tears began to flow and sobs shook him. He gave himself up to them now for the first time on the island..."(202), the readers experience their own bit of sadness and weakness. Ralph's morals never really left him, even when he was off dreaming about his life at home his want for rescue was with him. Everyone has a moment of weakness at one time or another but their morality will always return and will never escape them completely. At the end of the book, all of the boys started to cry like Ralph, even the "savages".The boys were taken out of a trance when they reached the beach. As if the forest and anything in past the beach was their imagination and when they reached the sand and saw the sargeant they returned to reality. 

Castle Rock

1. Ralph acusses Jack of being a beast and a theif because he is acting savegery and he stole Piggy's glasses and the fire. This, and the fight they had, may show a shred of civilization because when someone steal something from another person the civilized response is to be angry but then to confront that person. And although fighting isn't necessarily civilized, it is something that civilized people do sometimes in order to let out their anger and stress 

2. Ralph becomes more savage because he, first brought spears when confronting Jack and his tribe which was not necessary. Secondly Ralph fought back after Piggy told him to stop and to remember what they came for (their fire and Piggy's glasses, not for blood). Later Piggy stops the fight by getting killed by a boulder that is let out by Roger. After he died and his body was taken by the sea, everyone was almost in shock and scared of what my become of them and stopped fighting out of fear. 

3. In chapter 11 William Goulding is trying to show that over time even the most civilized people become broken and confused when being are isolated by their civilized societies over time. Ralph and Piggy both have the same morals regarding getting home and returning to their organized communities, but in this scene they are both changing. Ralph is following the reaccuring mob mentality by using a spear, putting his hair up, and almost admiring the new look of Jack's tribe. And Piggy is exploding in his own head, he yearns for rules and civilization and since he is not getting what he wants he trying to create it himself. By doing this he is only killing himself, literally, because everyone else had already forgot about their pasts. In the end Goulding is warning his readers that whether you remember your morals or stray away from them, either way you are stuck and will continue to fall deeper and deeper into the hole of the reality in isolation. 

Shadows and Tall Trees

In chapter 7 William Golding makes his belief evident that all humans have the tendency to act like a beast. Throughout the story the readers found the characters becoming more and more animal like. For example in chapter 5 Golding shows a physical change. Ralph is upset with his looks and how he is always dirty; his hair is longer and getting in his way, and his clothes are worn, ripped. But, in chapter 7, the author, demonstrates how the boys are becoming beasts in the way they think and act. Reading this chapter was actually disturbing in some ways. On page 114, towards the beginning of this chapter, some of the boys (except for Piggy) are out hunting for meat. After their encounter with injuring a boar, but not killing it, the boys find themselves in a disagreement or discussion. As all the boys are talking to one another, talking over each other, Robert is mocking Ralph and his attempt to kill the boar. When Jack sees this he instantly attacks Robert and the others join in; "Robert squealed in mock terror, and then in real pain. The butt end of a spear fell on his back as he blundered among them. They got his arms and legs. "Kill him! Kill him!" The chant rose "Kill the pig! Cut his throat!..." This shows just how fast this scene escalated. When reading it one may find it to be surprising, almost confusing, because you may not know what's going on right away. The boys are treating this young boy as a pig, trying to kill him. In some ways they were just kidding but in others the darkness growing inside them is peaking through. After this near death experience the boys completely go back to joking around, talking about the pig and what they will do, when they kill it and have meat, at the fire and how they will celebrate. They talk about using an actual pig, but then they bring up how someone could dress up like a pig. This talk is barbaric. All the boys discuss this topic calmly and with humor, but the truth behind it is devastating; it's cannibalism. When Golding talks about this theory of his, as a reader I would have to agree, these characters are becoming beasts right in front of my very own eyes.