Blog #10-Oedipus

Oedipus the king is a great tragic drama, well thought out and interesting. This is portrayed in a form to be acted out in a play but seemed more like a drama that was slowly (very much so) uncovering the truth about what Oedipus was seeking and finally about himself. Throughout the story Oedipus was in great haste to uncover the true murder of the previous king before him, King Laios. he proposed that the murderer will be shunned and would be banished from the city so that the plague that was placed by the Gods would vanish. Oedipus had left his original home to make sure the prophecy that he would kill his father (who was actually his adoptive father) would not come true. By leaving he actually fulfilled the prophecy because he did end up killing his father (his father by blood relations), marrying his own mother unknowingly and then incestually conceiving children from that marriage. Finally towards the last 5 pages of the play, Oedipus discovers it was he who murdered his father, and commensed the prophecy to follow through with itself. Oedipus blinded himself in the end because he unknowingly married his own mother. His mother committed suicide because of the newly found information, knowing that she had an incestual relationship with her son forced her to take her own life.
Oedipus blinded himself with her brooches because he felt it was appropriate, he didnt want to be able to literally see his parents in the afterlife. Blinding himself can be depicted as his unknowingness. Oedipus was so ignorant of his own history that it led him to blame his wife/mothers brother and tried to banish him, even though getting the information that he was getting from the messangers and the prophets didnt relay the conclusion well enough to allow him to think the murder and crime was of his own doing. Not knowing the Truth about his existence was Oedipus' blindness. Blindness is depicted as being in the dark and not knowing. But with a man of honor, he banished himself for the horrible crime he committed and left his kingdom blidn in darkness to forage the rest of his miserable life alone so that the Gods may pity the city he had plagued.

Blog #9

Well since we can post about any class material or subjects that interests us right now, i would like to make this blog about global warming. Its funny that in the newspaper we'll have a full page spread on Lindsey Lohan clubbing, being drugged up and her possible trip behind bars but in regards to whats occuring in our lives we have to try and scavage through the paper to find tidbits of articles relating to global warming or the causes its having on our planet. I would assume that a good portion of you have thought about, know about or even believe in "2012" (the coming of the supposed apocolypse). That being said, with all these earthquakes and harsh weather apperations, can't you put it together? Hurricane Katrina could have been an insight of whats to come. And as years passed it came via 2009-2010; volcanoes that have been inactive for decades are now exploding and unheard of earthquakes demolishing countries. I see a pattern. Scientists have already began putting plans into play for a tsunami to hit New York (oh, joy). In reality, the world has made an effort to be greener to slow the process down (the cleansing of the toxins *us humans and the destruction we've set up for ourselves*) The North Pole is basically 65% melted, thats a shitload of water, which means the water level is rising and FAST. It being unusally warm up there is not positive, but the friggin government see's it as a faster way for cargo ships to make their trades. faster trades, less oil, less congestition, more money. Forget destroying the world, jsut make more money to end up dead and not even needing it. =] Thats whats been on my mind as of lately, our world that we undermine.

Blog #8 Assignment:Poems

The story i chose was "The Road not Taken" by Robert Frost. While reading the story, the reader can relate to the experience that was occuring between the lines of the poem. Therefore i believe this to be an example of reader response. My first ignorant assumption was that Frost was going through the woods and was cut short on his journey due to a fork in the path. This fork can be a symbol for making a decision in life. How could my assumption be ignornant? Well, i think he could be questioning his sexuality and is unsure if he should be straight or curve the other way. (lol?) Well on to more legitamite reasoning, the roads are probably the decisions we make in life and how we make them. Frost tried to look as far as he could at one road to see how it would be but took the road that was scarcely taken because it was hardly used and looked different. That in itself is an example of not conforming to society and thriving on your own personal drive. But after deciding on which road he was taking, he felt regret about not taking the other road, only because he wondered how that road would have effected his life. Like the butterfly effect, one little thing done, could change the outlook on a persons entire life.
To me, the whole poem presents the reader on a day in Frost' life when he had to make a decision. The decision he had to make was sure to effect the rest of his life and he would not be able to change it. Every single day of our lives we all have to make decisions, even if its what underwear am i going to wear today. Your choice of underwear could be the very reason your day went as it did. Once a decisionn is made there is no going back or fixing it. Whats done is done.

Blog-#7

Efimia Niotis

English 102-Professor Vasileiou

April 28, 2010

My very Interesting perspective of

Symbolism of the Chrysanthemums

Throughout literature, many authors have used their life experiences, views on the environment and government to illustrate their ideas and creative literature skills. In the story, "the chrysanthemums", Elisa, Henry and the stranger help illustrate symbolism. In this story, symbolism is also used to express a perspective of gender criticism. Through gender criticism we see how the role of gender is viewed in ways that we commonly conceive it to be. For example, the woman is to be in the kitchen cooking and cleaning, while the man should be working and supporting his family. Elisa's character is presented as strong, masculine and not really in a female form of attraction. Steinback used a lot of symbolism to extract his thoughts on the female role, and through these symbols, we can see the true under layer of the depiction of a woman at the time of the story taking place.

This story, "The chrysanthemums" by John Steinback depicts multiple ideas that embody the reader with symbols or ideas that give us an aspect of the setting and how it reflects onto the characters. The setting also refers to the feeling and thoughts of our main character and the way she morphs into something else through her interactions. Steinback chose the setting of the story to take place in the Salina's Valley, being the same place that he was born. The main characters in the story were Elisa Allen, Henry Allen and the Traveling salesman. Even at the very beginning of the story, symbolism is represented through the location of the story taking place. "The high grey-flannel fog of winter closed off the Salina's Valley from the sky and from all the rest of the world...of the great valley a closed pot." (Literature, chapter 7, pg. 226). Right away, the reader is able to interpret the setting as closed off and lonely to the other parts of society, so the main focus is on Elisa and Allen who lived in that setting. Elisa is the main character of the story being told, along with her prized flowers; the Chrysanthemums. Steinbeck introduced Elisa to the reader as a thirty-five year old woman who possessed a face that was "lean and strong", "her figure looked blocked and heavy...” (pg. 226). Our first introduction to Elisa is a harsh one, being that she seems so crude and unattractive. While tending to her garden, she gets some dirt on herself and doesn’t take notice of it, nor does it bother her. Through those simple factors, Elisa can be depicted as manly and not concerned with much except for her garden. Allen seems to be a good husband since after making a sale to two business men, he wanted to take Elisa out to dinner and even take her to see a movie instead of a fight that he would enjoy much more. Even so, there is a feeling that their marriage is more of a strong friendship than a traditional deeply in love, forever in adornment and the constant sexual need of one another. Allen compliments her handy work in the garden and Elisa took great pride in the "gardening hand" comment. From that, the reader can also take that Elisa is probably self conscious about herself and can be easily manipulated with compliments or tender feelings towards her.
Coming up to the climax of the story, Elisa is introduced to a scruffy salesman that comes rolling onto her property. Steinback didn’t give this traveling salesman a name and left him as "the man". That, in itself can represent something unknowing, possibly in regards to Elisa? That this "unknowing" perspective of Elisa can easily sway her moods and change how she presents herself. This is a part of her transformation; an introduction to something Elisa is not used to, and creates a change in her mind set. At the beginning of the conversation between Elisa and the man, she removes her gardening gloves, which were stated earlier in the story, as protection for hands from getting hurt. "Elisa took off her gloves and stuffed them in the apron...” (pg. 229). Her gloves being removed can be depicted as her vulnerability and open arms to the stranger. The man attempts to make his living for the day through Elisa by offering his fixing capabilities. But being that Elisa had no need for his services she continued her gardening, as well as allowing the man to continue conversing with her. Having been shut down on his services, the man then tries to manipulate the situation to his favor by implying positive aspects to Elisa's garden that she seem so doted on. After making up a story about how a previous encounter with a 'lady' who wanted chrysanthemums badly, the man bestowed an opening and longing for Elisa. She became very interested in explaining the way to care for the plants, but can be depicted as how she wants to be treated and thought about.

Having the tender care of the plants, to help them grow and become beautiful is how Elisa wants to be as well. She quickly gave the man a job to do with his capabilities due to the guilty manipulation he portrayed to Elisa, and made his income for the day. The bitter smell of the chrysanthemums that the man mentioned can also be depicted as Elisa's loins, and the smell of her essences. After the man commented on the smell being negative, Elisa hurriedly became defensive about loving the smell, which followed by the man's change of perspective on the smell and actually ‘liking it’. Elisa's description of plucking the buds is sexual as well and how the task of plucking is automatic and sensual; how the feeling of the duty travels through her body and sends messages of pleasure to her brain. The man being simple minded, compared that feeling to his masturbating in his truck in order to relate to Elisa, but didn’t straight out and say it. "Sometimes in the night in the wagon there-" (pg. 230). Through the story, Elisa mentions how she doesn’t live like the man and wondered how it would be TO live like him. That gives the reader an idea on how Elisa feels stuck and is interested in exploring other aspects of her life and probably even other things sexually. After the man left, Elisa quickly went back into her house to get rid of her soiled dress and apron (could also mean to get rid of the dirty feeling she had after the interaction with the man), and to shower for her date that night with her husband. She fiercely scrubbed at her skin to the point of redness to thoroughly rid of her soiled feeling. While getting ready to go out with her husband, Elisa was very particular with how she dressed, did her hair and how she finally looked. Her concern was that of vanity, to make sure she looked feminine and appealing, which in fact did appeal to her husband when he saw her. Viewing the chrysanthemums seeds thrown on the side of the road allowed her to feel used and unattractive which made her cry. Simple as that. Reading the story allowed me to think Steinback wanted to depict inner self consciousness, being a loner, a lot of sexual meaning and the want to be cared for and loved in the right manner.

Henry compliments her flower garden but not his wife. The stranger that came to the ranch when Henry was gone was able to easily infiltrate Elisa's invisible guard and trick her into getting work through her by appealing to the female side of Elisa. Elisa probably rarely feels feminine about herself so the stranger had it easy to trick her. After being used she was upset but realized that in the outside world all men are the same. Overall, Steinback placed Elisa in the position of a once thought strong and masculine individual but was portrayed as a simple minded woman with self esteem issues. Elisa was easily manipulated to believe in leaving with the stranger (something that she thought of), and expressing emotions towards him, and lastly being able to reside somewhere new. If the reader was thinking that Elisa was a main character and a heroine when deciphering this story, is mistaken. She is neither a victim nor a heroine, just a mere pawn in the world of men.

Work Citied:

Steinback, John. “The Chrysanthemums.” Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. Ed. X. J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 11th Compact ed. New York: Longman, 2009. 224-233. Print.

Blog # 6

Firstly i would like to thank our Professor for this Blogspot.com idea. Having our assignments due on one web page which is capable of being viewed by our peers is awesome. Its easier and much less stressful to blog our assignments than to write the whole process out, print, hand in, get back with grade, re-write and so on. I really like reading my classmates intake and opinions on the literature we have read. My ideas become much better depictions through their opinions and my own as well. Its also much easier to refer back to what ive written, and even helped me with the midterm. Knowing that other people might be reading my blog does not change the way i write them. I'm already used to writing stuff on xanga/myspace/facebook that its pretty easy and normal for me. Also, since my career choice is to become an English professor, reading other peoples entries is liek practice for whats to come. I do analyze a lot and correct individuals grammar, but dont take it as harsh criticism, its just the way i work. =]

Blog #5

Lupe Fiasco is a young hip-hop/rap artist who i personally like. His lyrical verses are insightful and deliver more of a message of whats going on in the world rather than how big his rims on his "whip" is. This song i chose, "Little Weapon" is from his "The Cool" album. I usually just download the music i like from the internet but rarely if i really like the album i'll actually pay for it. This song kind of speaks to me about individuals (more than likely about little kids that don't know any better) that have struggled in life and live a certain way to get by or live up to the standards of our society. Its political, about war, the government and living through all the pain and struggle. Are you man enough to fight for what you believe in or are you smart enough to acknowledge that the government had led you to believe that you are fighting for a better and more peaceful world? This song is hard, period. I could go on about every little aspect of imagery through his lyrical verses, but i think i already got to the point. Enjoy the video, and listen to "Hello/Goodbye" by Lupe Fiasco as well, it makes me think about 2012. -Mia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ra9DVewxdo

Blog #4

Throughout literature, many authors have used their life experiences, views on the environment and government to illustrate their ideas and creative literature skills. In the story, "the chrysanthemums", Elisa, Henry and the stranger help illustrate gender criticism. Gender criticism is used to express critcism in gender in ways that we commonly conceive it to be. For example, the woman is to be in the kitchen cooking and cleaning, while the man should be working and supporting his family. Elisa's character is presented as strong, masculine and not really in a female form of attraction. Henry compliments her flower garden but not his wife. The stranger that came to the ranch when Henry was gone was able to easily infiltrate Elisa's invisible guard and trick her into getting work through her by appealing to the female side of Elisa. Elisa probably rarely feels feminine about herself so the stranger had it easy to trick her. After being used she was upset but realized that in the outside world all men are the same.