Wednesday
The Taming of the Shrew Blog Post
“The Taming of the Shrew” is a play within a play, told to Christopher Sly (or rather the actor who plays Christopher Sly, whose character believes) he is a lord because of a trick a real lord decided to play. Performed by actors playing actors playing characters (who often play other characters) the play within the play tells the story of Katherine and Bianca, two young women -played by young men- who are daughters of a wealthy family. Many of the characters act in disguise (either as each other, or different characters entirely) adding a layer of mystery to an already complicated plot.
It is likely that Shakespeare wrote “The Taming of the Shrew” this way (that is as a play within a play) to create distance between the story and audience. Many of the characters, themes, and stigmas present in the play would also likely be a part of everyday life in Elizabethan England. Without an idea of distance, and the ability to be able to laugh at the exchanges between Kate and Petruchio
“Why, what’s a movable?” “A joint stool.”
or Vincentio and the Merchant,
“Art thou his father?” “Ay”
the play would too closely resemble everyday life to be comfortable. Creating a sense of distance would also make it easier for the people coming to see the play to brush off, or even laugh off, the more concerning scenes. There are many scenes of violence and abuse, and many representations of sexism or stigmatism that an audience would rather not see.
“The Taming of the Shrew” is very sexist and detrimental to women. Throughout the play, the definition of a good woman as someone who is docile, obedient, and silent is startlingly apparent. Shakespeare writes with the belief that ‘taming’ a disobedient woman is an achievement to be celebrated. Independent mindedness, spirit, and respect are condemned and criticized. Many women are seen only as possessions, equal to ox or to things. Many men are seen as jerks, which can only be summed up by Petruchio’s speech.
“I will be master of what is mine own.
She is my goods, my chattels; she is my house,
My household-stuff, my field, my barn,
My horse, my ox my ass, my anything,”
In the hopes of holding out for an ending, reading “Taming of the Shrew” only more clearly illustrated the negative and harmful perceptions in many societies. For sure, though, the ending must be that Petruchio comes to respect Kate and realize that he loves her more for her independence than he would if she was docile. Lucentio and Bianca would get married, and Gremio and Grumio would reveal that they were one person all along. Yet, the ending was not that. “The Taming of the Shrew” ended with a very long speech by Katherine about the importance of obedience in woman.
It is difficult to know what Shakespeare intended when he wrote “The Taming of the Shrew”. His play can be viewed in many different ways. It could be that that was how he thought. It could also be a commentary of society at the time. What is the most difficult to read and accept about his play is the knowledge that is a representation of a real worldview. Many of the attitudes the characters express are reflective of the attitude of general society. Perhaps that is why Shakespeare wrote the “Taming of the Shrew”- to allow the audience to realize the attitudes they themselves had.
Sunday
To Kill A Mockingbird Conclusion
To Kill A Mockingbird is ultimately about growing up. Over the course of the novel, several important lessons are introduced to Scout, and in the last ten chapters you see her finally fully realize their true meaning.
At the beginning of the book, when she is talking to Atticus about her first day at school, he tells her about putting herself in another person’s shoes, considering things from his or her point of view. It is only at the end of the novel, standing of the Radley porch, do you see that she fully understands what he was trying to say. It is in that moment that you can see how much she has truly grown up.
She also learns about racism and courage. Understanding that many of the people in Maycomb are racist is hard for her and for Jem, especially after watching the trial. Learning that Tom Robinson will be convicted, even though he is innocent is difficult for the children to comprehend and hard for them to come to terms with. Both Scout and Jem learn about courage and also become more aware that racism exists in the wider world.
Finally, she learns about the mockingbird. Throughout the novel, a mockingbird has been a symbol of innocence, of someone who has done no harm. When Scout and Jem receive guns for Christmas one year, Atticus tells Jem that he can, ‘shoot at all the bluejays he wants, if he can hit them, but remember that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird.’ You see that Scout understands not only this, but it’s deeper meaning, when she talks to Atticus about Boo Radley. In a way, she says, convicting Boo Radley would be like shooting a mockingbird.
-- To Kill A Mockingbird Paragraphs -- (12-20)
In what is perhaps the most critical section of the entire book, Scout has the opportunity to see a variety of different perspectives, opinions, and outlooks. She begins to learn a little bit more about the worldviews of the different people of Maycomb, and begins to understand what Atticus was trying to say when he talks about considering things from another point of view.
At church with Calpurnia, both Scout and Jem see a different community and way of looking at the world. They are surprised to learn that Calpurnia, a part of both communities, presents herself differently depending on the circumstances she is in. When Aunt Alexandra comes to stay, she also brings completely different ideas. She wants Scout to become a lady, to wear skirts and attend society teas. She also wants Jem and Scout to learn about their family name. Though you can see that Aunt Alexandra has good intentions, you can also see that Scout doesn’t take very well to them.
The most important event in these chapters, the trial of Tom Robinson, shows the completely different perspectives of the town. At first, you can clearly see where the farmers and workers are coming from. Learning that Tom Robinson raped a young girl would cause anyone to be furious, and rightly so. However, once the trial begins, it becomes very clear that this was not what happened. All the evidence points to a different story; Mayella fell in love, or at least felt curious about being with a black man, who already had a wife and family. He felt sorry for her because of the terrible circumstances and home life she faced, and one day as he came in to help her do something, she came onto him. Her father, seeing this, attacked her. He and Mayella both told the sheriff that it was Tom who caused her harm. Even after this, Tom Robinson is convicted, and Scout and Jem both learn about the prejudice in Maycomb. You can also put yourself in the perspective of both Mayella Ewell and Tom Robinson, and as Atticus reads his final testimony it is clear he has already. The trial is hard for all involved, and in the end, Tom Robinson’s story is a tragedy.
To Kill A Mockingbird Representation Write Up (12-20)
The most important event in these eight chapters, and perhaps the entire book, is the trial of Tom Robinson. Raising important questions about equality, racism, and the role that prejudice plays in the justice system, the trial is important for many key characters in the book and readers today. I chose an image that represents an important saying in court, ‘justice is blind’, because that though it is important for justice to be blind it often is not. This was the case both in Tom Robinson’s trial and in many real historical and modern day court cases.
To Kill A Mockingbird Paragraphs (9-11)
Did you know that in his day and age, Atticus Finch was the best shot in Maycomb? Until a mad dog named Tim Johnson comes charging down the street, Jem and Scout had no idea. To Scout this is an instant redeeming quality, she does not hesitate in wanting to tell the whole town (and Cecil Jacobs) about this new discovery. It is especially amazing to her because she believes Atticus does very little that is dynamic and interesting, like drive a garbage truck or play tackle football. He just reads. So when a mad dog comes down the street, and the town calls Heck Tate -the Sheriff- and Atticus Finch, Scout and Jem are surprised to see their father take the rifle forced upon him, take aim, and shoot. Atticus pushing back the glasses he needs to see with and then hitting Tim Johnson perfectly is amazing to both his children, who have never even seen their father hold a gun before. Both Jem and Scout are surprised to learn this, but Jem also understands why his father never mentioned it to them before. His answer to Scout shows that he truly is growing up.
Why did Atticus never mention it to Jem and Scout? Miss Maudie somewhat explains this to Scout when she says “I think maybe he put his gun down when he realized that God had given him an unfair advantage over most living things. I guess he decided he wouldn’t shoot till he had to, and he had to today.” Atticus is the best shot in Maycomb, but the fact that he never carries a gun is testament to his character. He wouldn’t take pride in something that causes unfair harm, or even death to other life. Jem sees this, I think, as well, which is why he tells Scout not to brag about Atticus around town; he never mentioned it to them for a reason. He wouldn’t care if Atticus couldn’t do anything at all.
“I wanted you to see something about her- I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand.” – Atticus
In ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’, courage appears in many different forms. Perhaps one of its most curious manifestations is Ms. Dubose, a cantankerous, elderly, and very rude morphine addict. When Jem destroys her flower garden, he is forced to spend time each day reading to her and he brings Scout with him. Neither of the two children really know what is going on, they are confused and rather disgusted by her fits of withdrawal and do not understand the purpose of the alarm clock she sets later each day. It is only one day, when she passes away, that Atticus explains it to them. Though she was dying, and in a great deal of pain, she refused to take morphine to combat her suffering. She was facing an addiction and wanted to die beholden to nothing and no one. And she succeeded in beating her addiction; in her mind, she died free. Courage, as Atticus says, is not a man holding a gun. It is “when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what.” Courage takes many forms, both in To Kill A Mockingbird, and in real life.
To Kill A Mockingbird Representation Write Up (9-11)
“Shoot at all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird.” –Atticus Finch, page 119.
To Kill A Mockingbird is about innocence, which is represented by this picture of a mockingbird perfectly. Mockingbirds, like Miss Maudie Atkinson says “don’t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corncribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us.” This is also a representation of many characters in the book; Scout who is innocent in the way that she sees the world growing up, Boo Radley, who is innocent of the stories told about him, and Tom Robinson who is innocent of the crime he was accused of.
To Kill A Mockingbird Paragraphs (1-8)
The Radley house has always held a sense of mystery for Jem and Scout, but it is only really when they meet Dill that it becomes a more important part of their everyday lives. Perhaps this is why, for Jem, the story of Tom Robinson began with Dill daring Boo Radley to come out.
But who is Boo Radley? Though in reality not very much is known about him, the children and the neighborhood gossip, Ms. Stephanie Crawford, do not hesitate to fill in the blanks. Much in the way of telling scary stories and adding mystery to the unknown, they say that “Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall…he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch…There was a long jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had were yellow and rotten; his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time.” Adding further mystery to the story of Boo, the people of the town say he only comes out at night, that unexplained crimes are his doing, and that he once drove a pair of scissors into his father’s leg. Ms. Stephanie Crawford swears she saw him looking in her window at night. But this is only speculation, Boo’s true character is not known, primarily because he has never been seen. Boo is a recluse, and it is very unlikely that he is the cause of the rumors about him.
To the children he is fascinating. They dare each other to touch the Radley house, try to slip notes saying “hey” in his windows, and re-enact his life story (as told by the town and Ms. Stephanie) on their front lawn. One summer, Jem even goes to the back porch, to look in the window and flees the scene, leaving his pants caught in the barbed wire fence surrounding the Radley property. Reading, you also get the feeling that Boo Radley knows what the children are up to, and that finds it amusing. He likes the children, even though he is still Boo Radley to them, and you can tell this by him leaving them gifts in the hollowed out tree, giving Scout a blanket the night of the fire, folding and mending Jem’s pants when the get caught in the fence, or even laughing when Scout rolls into his yard on the tire and everyone freaks out because she has landed in front of the Radley house. Undoubtedly, the Radley house will continue to play an important part in the book as the story progresses.
To Kill A Mockingbird Representation Write Up (1-8)
This picture is reflective of the different points of view in To Kill A Mockingbird. The idea of looking at something from a different perspective is first introduced by Atticus, who tells Scout “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” (39).
The Loons Vocab/Lit Webs
The Loons Representation
The Loons Representation Write Up
I chose an image of a loon for my representation of the Loons. Aside from the evident literal meaning and connection to the story (the title is "The Loons") the loon is also a metaphor for the Metis people.
The Loons Paragraphs
Margaret Laurence’s short story, “The Loons” is set in the small Canadian town of Manawaka and the nearby Diamond Lake. Both the town and its inhabitants are fictional, however the stories told and prejudices present are not. In a way, Margaret Laurence’s tale is a reflection on aspects of both historical and modern Canadian society.
This story is narrated by the somewhat naïve Vanessa MacLeod, who is reflecting on the experiences and memories she had as a child. In particular, she remembers the relationship she had with a young Métis woman, Piquette Tonnerre. Piquette’s story is not uncommon; perhaps it is because of this that it is so striking. Diagnosed with bone tuberculosis at a young age and feeling responsible for taking care of her family, she was never a child. She stays with Vanessa and her family one summer and Vanessa is overjoyed to learn that there is an actual Métis girl living with them. She can’t wait for Piquette to start exploring the forest paths with her, talking with animals, and reciting poetry. In actuality, Piquette’s character is different both from the stereotypes people in the town have expressed about her family, and the idea of who she is Vanessa has expressed. Many of the circumstances she faces are tragic and when Vanessa next sees her, she has found a new hope of being free. Yet Piquette’s story is both tragic and impactful because in the end, this hope is never achieved and she returns to the life she has lived in for so long, eventually dying in the circumstances she faced as a child. As she sits by the lake, Vanessa realizes that Piquette is like the loons she has seen.
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