Monday, June 13, 2011
Invisible Man
I have decided that I want to read 'Invisible Man'. I chose this book because the main theme is racism. I think I will find this book very interesting and the fact that it is written in first person makes it even more interesting because I can sympathise with the main character more as we get to be in his head. The feelings are much stronger when told from the person themselves.
Monday, February 14, 2011
mini essay of 'How far can we say that 'All My Sons' is a tragedy? (not in depth and no tragic elements, just opinions)
'All my Sons' is partly a tragedy and partly not.
I would say that it is a tragedy because many of the characters have suffered a loss but also not a tragedy because some people have been relieved e.g. the family of the 21 soldiers and George and his father.
Some would say it's a tragedy because not only has Kate had to go through coming to terms to accepting the death of her son but she also lost her husband. Chris has to live with blaming himself for the death of his father as he had shot himself following a row with Chris. Although Ann should be happy her father isn't fully to blame for the death of 21 soldiers, she has to watch the love of her life leave her as he believes that Anne will blame him for what happened to her father. I would also say that it is a tragedy because a tragedy is regarded as having a positive ending for some and for George and his father, the ending could've been said to be positive.
Others might say 'All My Sons' is not a tragedy because they believe that Joe Keller deserved to die as he was responsible for the death of 21 men and also behind an innocent man being sent to prison. They would say that the greater effect of his death, the relief of 21 families finding out the killer of their sons has been found and paid for what his done, is greater than the minor effect of only 1 family having to grieve his death. Another reason why they might say it's not a tragedy is because George, who had been avoiding his father for a long time, finally found out that his father in fact isn't the cold blooded murder he had him down for.
Looking at both sides, I personally think that 'All My Sons' is a tragedy. This is because I think the intention of Joe wasn't to kill 21 people but was to provide for his family and stop the business from closing down. He rose from being an uneducated man to opening his own business. His business was like a lifetime achievement. Something he achieved all on his own and so when he was told to ship in parts, he didn't think of the greater picture but instead the smaller. I'm not saying what he did was right but I don't think he expected the consequence of his actions to be the death of 21 soldiers along with his own son committing suicide. However, what I do think is that him killing himself was cowardy and that he should've manned up and served his time. Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.
I would say that it is a tragedy because many of the characters have suffered a loss but also not a tragedy because some people have been relieved e.g. the family of the 21 soldiers and George and his father.
Some would say it's a tragedy because not only has Kate had to go through coming to terms to accepting the death of her son but she also lost her husband. Chris has to live with blaming himself for the death of his father as he had shot himself following a row with Chris. Although Ann should be happy her father isn't fully to blame for the death of 21 soldiers, she has to watch the love of her life leave her as he believes that Anne will blame him for what happened to her father. I would also say that it is a tragedy because a tragedy is regarded as having a positive ending for some and for George and his father, the ending could've been said to be positive.
Others might say 'All My Sons' is not a tragedy because they believe that Joe Keller deserved to die as he was responsible for the death of 21 men and also behind an innocent man being sent to prison. They would say that the greater effect of his death, the relief of 21 families finding out the killer of their sons has been found and paid for what his done, is greater than the minor effect of only 1 family having to grieve his death. Another reason why they might say it's not a tragedy is because George, who had been avoiding his father for a long time, finally found out that his father in fact isn't the cold blooded murder he had him down for.
Looking at both sides, I personally think that 'All My Sons' is a tragedy. This is because I think the intention of Joe wasn't to kill 21 people but was to provide for his family and stop the business from closing down. He rose from being an uneducated man to opening his own business. His business was like a lifetime achievement. Something he achieved all on his own and so when he was told to ship in parts, he didn't think of the greater picture but instead the smaller. I'm not saying what he did was right but I don't think he expected the consequence of his actions to be the death of 21 soldiers along with his own son committing suicide. However, what I do think is that him killing himself was cowardy and that he should've manned up and served his time. Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.
Monday, January 31, 2011
All My Sons~ Act Two
Act Summary
In chapter two there's a whole conflict about whether Steve Deever was in fact responsible for the cracked planes being used for the war or if it was actually Joe Keller who was behind it all. George Deever comes from New York to visit his father for the first time since the war. He believes his father after visiting him and , now a lawyer, knows how to argue his point. He tells Chris he believes Joe was behind the 120 planes being flown out and his father was just carrying out the duty ordered by Joe. George also tells Anne that she can't marry the son of the man with blood on his hands who sent their father to jail. George goes back to New York after an argument with Chris. Anne refuses to go with him so he leaves alone. After George leaves there's a further argument between Chris and Kate; Kate insists that Chris can't marry his brother's girlfriend but Chris makes it clear he believes his brother Larry is dead. Kate says that if Chris believes Larry's dead then he must also accept that his father killed him. Chris is under shock by what he has discovered and argues with his dad. It is in this act that it's revealed Joe was behind the planes crashing.
Tragic Elements
Tere's
In chapter two there's a whole conflict about whether Steve Deever was in fact responsible for the cracked planes being used for the war or if it was actually Joe Keller who was behind it all. George Deever comes from New York to visit his father for the first time since the war. He believes his father after visiting him and , now a lawyer, knows how to argue his point. He tells Chris he believes Joe was behind the 120 planes being flown out and his father was just carrying out the duty ordered by Joe. George also tells Anne that she can't marry the son of the man with blood on his hands who sent their father to jail. George goes back to New York after an argument with Chris. Anne refuses to go with him so he leaves alone. After George leaves there's a further argument between Chris and Kate; Kate insists that Chris can't marry his brother's girlfriend but Chris makes it clear he believes his brother Larry is dead. Kate says that if Chris believes Larry's dead then he must also accept that his father killed him. Chris is under shock by what he has discovered and argues with his dad. It is in this act that it's revealed Joe was behind the planes crashing.
Tragic Elements
Tere's
All My Sons~ Act One
Quick Summary
In Act One we're introduced to the main characters: Joe, Kate and Chris Keller; Ann and George Deever; Dr.Jim and his wife Sue bayliss and also Lydia and Frank Lubey.
The main things we find out in Act One is that the play was set just after WW2 where Chris and Larry, Joe and Kate's other dead son, fought. The mother Kate Keller still hasn't come to terms with the death of her son Larry Keller and still believes that he's somewhere out there. Larry's girlfriend Anne turns up at the Keller's house; Chris is in love with her and wants to marry her however can't because his mother believes Larry will come back and so cannot take his girlfriend.
In this act we also find out that Joe Keller was ones convicted of selling 120 cracked planes to be fought with during the war which lead to the death of many soldiers. However, he was later said to be not-guilty and his business partner, Anne and George's father, Steve Deever was found guilty of the crime and sent to jail.
Tragic Elements
I think a tragic element in this play is the fact that Kate Keller still believes that her son is alive and is therefore a barrier between Chris and Anne getting married as they are very much in love.
In Act One we're introduced to the main characters: Joe, Kate and Chris Keller; Ann and George Deever; Dr.Jim and his wife Sue bayliss and also Lydia and Frank Lubey.
The main things we find out in Act One is that the play was set just after WW2 where Chris and Larry, Joe and Kate's other dead son, fought. The mother Kate Keller still hasn't come to terms with the death of her son Larry Keller and still believes that he's somewhere out there. Larry's girlfriend Anne turns up at the Keller's house; Chris is in love with her and wants to marry her however can't because his mother believes Larry will come back and so cannot take his girlfriend.
In this act we also find out that Joe Keller was ones convicted of selling 120 cracked planes to be fought with during the war which lead to the death of many soldiers. However, he was later said to be not-guilty and his business partner, Anne and George's father, Steve Deever was found guilty of the crime and sent to jail.
Tragic Elements
I think a tragic element in this play is the fact that Kate Keller still believes that her son is alive and is therefore a barrier between Chris and Anne getting married as they are very much in love.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
The Great Gatsby- Chapter 1
In Chapter one we're first introduced to the narrator of the story Nick Carraway. He gives off a bad impression straight away because he tells us he is 'inclined to reserve all judgements' yet he starts being judgmental right afterwards. Nick says 'Gatsby turned out all right at the end'. Nick obviously must have had a bad impression of Gatsby to start with for him to turn out 'all right at the end'.
In this chapter Nick tells us about his family and background. He seems very proud of his rich background 'my family have been prominent, well-to-do people in this Middle Western city for three generations'. This suggests that Nick values class.
Further down the chapter Nick introduces us to his second cousin once removed Daisy and her husband Tom. They live in East Egg which is on the other side of the water from West Egg which is where Nick lives. East Egg is known as the 'old money' and West Egg as 'new money'. Gatsby also lives in West Egg with his 'new' found 'money'.
Whilst in East Egg, Tom makes some racist comment saying that the white people were the 'dominant race' and that they need to 'look out for the white race' to avoid being 'utterly submerged'. Right after this speech, the phone rings, the person asks for Tom and he leaves to answer the call. Daisy starts to act very strangely and compliments Nick comparing him to a rose till she breaks down and leaves the room. Jordan fills Nick on what's going on 'I thought everybody knew', 'Tom's got some woman in New York'. Tom had been cheating on Daisy.
In this chapter Nick tells us about his family and background. He seems very proud of his rich background 'my family have been prominent, well-to-do people in this Middle Western city for three generations'. This suggests that Nick values class.
Further down the chapter Nick introduces us to his second cousin once removed Daisy and her husband Tom. They live in East Egg which is on the other side of the water from West Egg which is where Nick lives. East Egg is known as the 'old money' and West Egg as 'new money'. Gatsby also lives in West Egg with his 'new' found 'money'.
Whilst in East Egg, Tom makes some racist comment saying that the white people were the 'dominant race' and that they need to 'look out for the white race' to avoid being 'utterly submerged'. Right after this speech, the phone rings, the person asks for Tom and he leaves to answer the call. Daisy starts to act very strangely and compliments Nick comparing him to a rose till she breaks down and leaves the room. Jordan fills Nick on what's going on 'I thought everybody knew', 'Tom's got some woman in New York'. Tom had been cheating on Daisy.
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