Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. . .

1. I thought the movie was probably one of the weirdest things I have ever seen. I guess it was interesting watching how ridiculous drug abuse can be, and how odd people become while they use drugs. However, I felt that the movie was just insane, and I felt as if I was turning insane while watching it. Most of the time I just felt nauseous watching it, because the room would begin to spin on the screen, and the characters becoming sick. I guess you could say the movie was not on my top ten list of favorite movies.

2. Both the film and the novel begin with the quote from Dr. Johnson, "He who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man." We can begin to identify this quote as we analyze the characters within Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. As the characters begin to use drugs they become these non-human beings, where they have no control of themselves, nor any aspect of their life. Their new characteristics could thus be related to a beast, and are relieving themselves of the pain of life through their drug addictions. However, as they relieve themselves of the pain, they are also relieving themselves of life in general, having no feeling except the feeling of the drug. The drugs will ultimately become their pain as it aides in being a temporary relief, and no matter how many times they use these drugs, life will eventually catch up to them.

The Importance of being Earnest

1. This drama was not my favorite to read. Although it was not that difficult to understand, I found it boring, and not very funny. Some aspects were found humourous such as how high society was viewed, however I was not drawn into the play like I was within the Taming of a Shrew. Regardless, of my disinterest I found the drama more appealing then some other things that I have read such as Bus Stop. Despite these criticisms I did like the things that I had analyzed about the play, regarding identity.

2. Oscar Wilde's portrayal of identity is individually viewed as important. Having both characters, Jack and Algemon having a dual identity allows the reader to visualize the pros and cons of having another identity. Wilde could be saying that this dual identity sometimes allows individuals to discover themselves, within this process. However through this discovery one could argue that he is not stating that you will always get what you want in life, by not being yourself. The main idea that could be conveyed is that sometimes we can not be ourselves to always get what we want in life, and we must all have these dual identities not to the extent of making up a totally different human being, but rather to bring out a superficial side to us all in order to achieve what we want or need to achieve in life.

The Taming of the Shrew

1. I found this literature by Shakespeare quite fascinating as it can relate to modern times. There are many women in this world who often do not see themselves in need of "taming." I believe it was a quote in the popular Sex in the City that states something that some women enjoy running wild and are not suppose to be tamed. This particular quote catches my eye as I read The Taming of the Shrew. At times I find it difficult to read because of the Shakespearean English that it is written in, however it is helpful to have it correspond to the movie "10 things I hate about you." However, so far I have enjoyed reading it and find it quite humorous.

2. Within this play the audience views a conflict between Katharina and Petrucchio. Katharina seems to be an angry, outspoken women, whom enjoys degrading and insulting men.Petrucchio also has some of the same qualities both selfish, and degrading. The humor that is found is within this conflict is that Petrucchio seems to be determined to "tame" Katharina as he asks for her hand, and forces marriage upon her. During the scene in which Katharina and Petrucchio, are getting married, Petrucchio arrives late and in an outrageous outfit, creating a mockery of the wedding.The conflict an individual could find humor in Shakespeare choosing these two characters to get married. When an individual thinks of marriage or the initial aspect of marriage the idea of love and passion is brought to mind. However, Shakespeare could possibly be hinting that marriage does not always begin with this overwhelming love aspect, and instead could be viewed as love is something in which we must climb to, instead of falling in. If we fall in love, then the literal translation is that we fall into a hole and are unable to climb out.

The Lottery

1. I found this short story very intriguing however extremely messed up. I read it before in high school. In high school I found it extremely weird which obviously has not changed but I also was nervous reading it because I thought it would give people the curiosity to possibly perform somewhat of the same kind of thing today. I also found the title odd for this story, being that today we think of the lottery being something good where some individual will collect lots of money and the rest of us dream about someday achieving the same, in this case, its a matter of life or death. I literally got chills down my spin from reading this story, I find it absolutely disgusting.
2. While reading The Lottery, the author foreshadowed the ending through the constant reflection of the stones. For instance, a mother telling her son after he was called that he can now run to the stones. The reader visualized that something must be going on with the stones, however the reader is uncertain. Once Tessie begins stating that it was unfair that her husband was picked, the reader begins to correlate the two and begins assuming something bad is about to happen. While trying to figure out what the author is hoping the reader would gain from this story, is quite a difficult task. Individually, you have to look beyond the text to understand what lessons may be presented. Jackson may be trying to make the point that we as individuals may do these "rituals" because our religions tell them to do so, not in the point of human sacrifices but outdated traditions or rituals. This maybe the point in which she is trying to make, that we have to modernize our beliefs so that we blend more with one another. A hint that was made from this conclusion was found in the comparison of other towns around them in which the lotteries no longer exist. Again this was quite difficult to derive, but individually one feels that there is a religious connotation.

"Bernice Bobs Her Hair"

1. I really enjoyed reading this short story. It was interesting that we can change so drastically for the opposite sex just to gain appreciation from them, and then we question these changes because we have lost our individuality. I guess one important factor that I realized while reading this short story, was the realization that if we have to change so much for an individual we have to question if it is worth it, in the means of changing ourself for someone else to like us. I guess the point that I am trying to make is, what I have experienced, the times in which I am myself are the times that I am able to meet incredible individuals, whereas when I alter my individuality, I become trapped into horrible relationships with people whom I have become to despise.
2. Individually, Fitzgerald's representation of identity within "Bernice Bobs Her Hair," is rather interesting. This story was written in the 1920's and it is rather interesting that what was being told (although very different) are still issues today regarding peer pressure. His representation of identity is that it is influenced by those around us. With this said Fitzergerald believes it is not something static because if it were Bernice would have remained the same, as this "proper" individual, instead she is replaced with this "wild" character. Again this is proven at the end of the story as well, as Bernice cuts Marjorie's braids while she is asleep and tosses them at Warren's house. This illustrates the affects that people have on one another, and how for the sake of attracting individuals, especially boys, we as girls are so revengeful and cruel to one another, that we loose ourselves and our identities.

A & P by John Updike

1. As I began reading this short story I thought the guy was a total weirdo. It was almost as if he was spying on people for a living as appose to being a cashier. The imagery in which he created through his use of words when describing the girls was pretty vivid, but again really weird. Never in my life have I described the opposite sex using food, but then again I never worked in a supermarket. Like I said previously the guy seems like a complete weirdo who needs a life, and in a way thank goodness he quit because maybe then he will improve on his social skills which obviously are lacking at this point.

2. Within the short story A & P, the narrator reveals several things about himself. First, he is a nineteen year old cashier within a A & P during the summer. With this in mind the narrator maybe be earning money before leaving to college. Anyways, to bide time within his job which he finds rather boring he analyzes people's characteristics. When the girls walked into the store or supermarket he was immediately taken with their characteristics and watched their every move. These characteristics made him draw several conclusions that led him to his initial interaction which proved his developed characteristics about these girls wrong. Furthermore, by the end of the story the narrator begins to realize that maybe not everyone is how the seem to appear so he quits his job and is left in a parking lot without the desired girls that he was hoping to see. He goes back to his feeling that people are how they seem, superficial, and the world could possibly be out to get him. It is with these feelings in which he indirectly expresses that the reader feels the narrator is portraying life in general to that of a supermarket, where people seem superficial as we do not interact with them and then discover that again not everyone is how the appear and we should not judge others based on how we view them.

Yeats-Feb 21

1. This poem left me with many questions mainly, especially ones that questioned if Yeats had any friends growing up. It is quite difficult for me to be drawn into a poem that first of all deals with the situation of rape let alone having it be told through this mythological figure. I guess I am one of those individuals that would rather read "happy" things, where there is happily ever after ending, but in this poem, you wouldn't find that. Putting aside my personal feelings, I think if an individual would read this, who enjoys fantasy and weird things they would think this poem was great, me however, I think this poem was horrible!

2. While I became acquainted with this poem in the way of trying to figure out its meaning and content I was astonished with Yeats' use of his portrayal of a rape from mythology. I feel his primary purpose was to create this predator vs victim portrayal, in which the victim was overcome with strength from her attacker that there was no way to "fight back." As a reader, we view mythological creatures as these "god-like" things that have all of the power in the world, and are inhuman with their powers. With this concept in mind Yeats was trying to draw a dramatic affect within a rape, by showing how powerful this specific attacker was. What I found interesting while reading was the theme in which this poem reveals the present through its portrayal of the past. Today when we analyze rape victims or these situations, people often question why it happened or why didn't the individual fight back. This is often so incomprehensible for individuals, however within Yeats' poem we are able to realize why a girl would not fight back as this huge creature with wings is rapping her, who overwhelms her both physically and mentally. This situation is similar to the past because individuals did not have freedom to do as they please, with this, it relates to today in the way of things happening that are beyond our control.

Hughes vs. Whitman. . .

Question: What is the relationship between Hughes's "I, too" and Whitman's "I hear America Singing"? How does Hughes respond to Whitman's conception of America?

1. While reading I felt a sense of connection towards these two particular readings. This semester I am also taking HIS411, which is African American Women in history. Both of these readings allowed me to apply it to both history and English in the sense of capturing the era of slavery. However, both White and African American views were seen within these separate readings that made me become more drawn into their underlying meanings. Within my reaction to these readings, I was overwhelmed with the feeling that these two readings, are a portrayal of life even today as we base our socio economic status on our future success. With this concept, today it is believed that if you are born into poverty the likelihood of you staying within poverty remains high, whereas back then if you are born into slavery you remain in slavery.

2. The relationship between Hughes's "I too" and Whitman's "I Hear America," was viewed as achieving the American Dream. Whitman basically is saying that everyone can achieve this goal as individuals sing there own individual dreams. However, Hughes contradicts this view as he is stating "You are right, you can achieve the American Dream and your people, however today my people and I can not, tomorrow yes but not today." Both individuals are stating that the "American Dream" is obtainable however based on race it is more obtainable to some then others. Again, this reverts to the slavery era, in which Hughes compares the American dream to eating at a table, which he is not allowed to do based on race. Within this American Dream concept, we strive as individuals to move forward in our lives as we prosper within our occupations. However, how can we move forward in our lives if we are simply constricted through our society. The interest within these two readings were found through its connection through today, no longer are we slaves, but we can be viewed as slaves through society in which we can not overcome the physical domains that do not allow us to obtain this American Dream. But, like Hughes said "tomorrow I'll be at the table when company comes. . ., besides they'll see how beautiful I am and be ashamed.