I have improved significantly in English through this course because it has pushed me to dedicate quite a bit of time in reading literature, both classic and modern. Reading classic literature has improved the way that I read by forcing me to look up words, phrases, and references that I did not previously understand. It has also helped me to adapt to different styles of writing. I have improved as a student because I began to enjoy the class and I realized that if I can find something fun and interesting in my other classes, then they might be enjoyable as well. I find that I perform better in classes that I enjoy, so this has been important for me to realize and act on. I set myself a goal that I was going to complete every reading, come to class every time, and do all of the assigned blog prompts and I successfully completed my goals. I still need to work on my time management, because I sometimes found myself stressed out on time for readings, essays, etc. Although I occasionally struggled with time management, the course helped me improve due to the constant reminders of due dates and the adequate time allotted for assignments. The most helpful aspects of this course for me were mainly the class discussions. Although I love reading, I discovered that it is even better when there is an entire classroom of students engaging in the same story as you. The discussions often enhanced my thought process because others generally thought of ideas, reasoning, or themes that I had not thought of myself. There wasn’t anything in the course that I did not find helpful.
Blog Prompt #10- Eyre Affair
In the novel The Eyre Affair, monsters are perceived differently than in the other novels we have read this semester. This story is set in a 1980’s alternate universe where literature is extremely valued and impossible ideas such as time travel are existent. Although society is similar in that it fears, rejects, and punishes criminals/monsters, it is different in that it “looks up to” these monsters in a way. A particularly interesting anomaly found in this story is that people in reality and characters in literature can cross over into the over universes. Because of this fine line between fiction and reality, we must consider whether monsters and monstrous qualities in real life versus fiction are portrayed/viewed the same or not. Personally, I find that instead of fearing and hating the villains in novels I read, I am intrigued by them. Perhaps one of the reasons that some people view villains differently is because they are intrigued by them similarly to how they might approach a theoretical villain in literature. Another possibility is that the general nature of the villainous acts are quite different than in our world, thus altering the meaning and perception of them. One of the major monstrous acts in this novel occurs when Acheron Hades steals an original manuscript of a novel and alters its plot by extorting characters and so forth. Because literature is highly valued in this society, perhaps people are impressed with Hades because he has taken a considerably valuable object. In our world, we would probably not care, or even be aware of the fact that a novel was stolen. These reasons lead to the idea that societal values alter perception, which then attempts to define “monster” or “monstrous acts”.
Blog Prompt #9- Nature
Throughout the novel Frankenstein, nature is a prominent recurring element that functions as a restoration of the body and mind. This novel was published during the Romantic era, which emphasized the sublime beauty of nature rather than the scientific aspects of nature. These ideas from the Romantic period about the purpose of nature play heavily in this book, especially concerning the major character Victor Frankenstein. Nature is used as a constant source of healing, comfort, and joy. Although Victor is “ill”, or depressed, throughout the majority of his lifetime since he created his monster, he always finds at least some restoration in his natural surroundings. When his depression comes to a peak, he travels to Chamounix and Montanvert (on different occasions) in order to heal his mind of the guilt, remorse, and sorrow that he constantly feels. Victor reflects on nature, “We passed a fortnight in these perambulations: my health and spirits had long been restored, and they gained additional strength from the salubrious air I breathed, the natural incidents of our progress” (Shelley, 43). Nature is compared to heaven in certain passages as it is portrayed as something more beautiful and bigger than anyone or anyone’s problems on Earth. Readers are supposed to understand nature’s power, and that the natural world is crucial to the most simple aspects of life and survival. We see this especially through the creature’s tale of his encounters and understandings of nature, even including the most basic natural forms such as heat, cold, light, and dark. There are many similarities between environmental nature and human nature, as they are both made up of both beautiful and evil components. Nature can be beautiful and restore the depressed soul, but it can also bring freezing storms and trap a boat in a sea of ice (as in Walton’s circumstance). Similarly, human nature has morals and compassion, but we can also be very selfish and inflict harm on society.
Blog Prompt #7- Victim or Villain
Dorian Gray is a character that undergoes enormous changes throughout the novel. Dorian is initially portrayed as a beautiful and innocent young man, but as he becomes influenced by Lord Henry there is a dramatic change in character. I believe Dorian can initially be considered a victim to Lord Henry’s manipulations, but it is ultimately up to Dorian to direct his own thoughts and behaviors. We can see that although Dorian is intrigued by Lord Henry, he also knows that his influence is for the worse: “Lord Henry had the charm of being very dangerous” (Wilde, 111). Because Dorian is cognitively aware of the wrongfulness of Lord Henry’s advice and still decides to base his thoughts and behaviors off of this manipulation, I now consider Dorian to be a villain. His villainous actions are portrayed onto his own painted portrait, which acts as a reflection of his soul. As the story continues, Dorian’s soul becomes more and more marred. The most monstrous part of this is that Dorian is solely concerned with his outward beauty and gives no care to what happens to his soul. He reflects, “What did it matter what happened to the colored image on the canvas? He would be safe. That was everything” (Wilde, 103). Because Dorian now views his outward beauty as the most important and influential thing in his life, his morality and good character have been lost.
Blog Prompt #6- The Spectator
Lord Henry and Basil Hallward are extremely interesting and vastly different characters in the novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray. The introduction to the novel states that, “It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors” (Wilde, 4). This quote helps the reader understand aspects of these characters in their thoughts on the meaning of art. Hallward believes that because he is so dominated with his adoration for Dorian Gray, that the depths of his own soul are displayed in his art. He cries to Lord Henry, “There is too much of myself in the thing Harry- too much of myself!” (Wilde, 14). Because Hallward is terrified of revealing his soul in his art, we can see that he believes art is meant to represent some beauty for the spectator to reflect on personally. As for Lord Henry, he is more difficult to interpret in my opinion. He holds many controversial theories about life, and lives it in pleasure. We can also glimpse the character of these men by analyzing their interactions with Dorian Gray. While they both absolutely adore Dorian, Hallward allows it to dominate him and he becomes jealous and sad. Lord Henry, however, obtains power and manipulation over Dorian, which reveals his strong personality. Our class quote by Junot Diaz states that, “There’s this idea that monsters don’t have reflections in a mirror. And what I’ve always thought isn’t that monsters don’t have reflections in a mirror. It’s that if you want to make a human being into a monster, deny them, at the cultural level, any reflection of themselves.” This quote helps us interpret Lord Henry as somewhat monstrous because he purposefully influences Dorian horribly by manipulating him into thinking and acting as Lord Henry would- therefore denying Dorian a real reflection of himself.
Blog Prompt #5- Transition
It has been clear since early on in the novel that Thomas is different than all of the other Gladers. Although he was scared when he first arrived in the Glade, he was predominantly filled with curiosity and determination to actually do something about the Gladers’ situation. Instead of focusing on order and making a life in the Glade, Thomas focuses on how to accomplish his goals (becoming a Runner) and getting out. Because many strange things happened upon Thomas’s arrival, including the conflict with Ben, Teresa’s arrival, the changing sky, surviving a night with the Grievers- all of these events cast suspicion upon Thomas and he had to overcome all of this in his transition to becoming a leader. It is also because of these things that the Gladers realized there was something special about Thomas and that the leaders should keep him close. Although Thomas does possess some bad traits, and there are several situations in which we question who Thomas really is (the “Changing” views of him), the author keeps us invested in his story. By manipulating a contrast of order and chaos and giving the reader insight into Thomas’s rationalization in the face of unknown, we are inclined to side with Thomas and believe that he has the ability to get the Gladers home. The author uses Thomas as a character that we can either relate to, or ope to be more like. Personally, I wish I could be as brave as Thomas that I would venture into the dangerous wilderness to save someone who is basically a stranger. Because we admire Thomas and are also curious at the same things he wonders about, we tend to push aside the suspicions and antagonistic views of him and become immersed in his story.
Blog Prompt #4- Banishment
The scene of Ben’s banishment reveals numerous qualities of the boys inhabiting the Glade. The Gladers decided to banish Ben as his punishment for attempting to murder Thomas. Because no one had ever survived a night in the maze, (this was obviously prior to Thomas’s experience in the maze) this banishment was the Gladers’ form of capital punishment. They believe that they are doing what is right in order to maintain order, but there are many things that the Gladers could have done instead, and/or they could have gone about it in another way. They could have attempted to help en, either with medications, therapy, rest, etc., or they could confine him like most real world criminal punishments. If going straight to the decision of banishment doesn’t fully reflect their monstrosity, the scene of the banishment quite does. When Chuck tells Thomas about what is going to happen, “He only smiled” (pg 89). The Keepers treat Ben with no sympathy and just totally deject themselves emotionally from the gigantic situation that is occurring. They use a “collar” and a long pole (leash) to force Ben into the Maze, thus dehumanizing him in order to make themselves feel free of guilt for what they are doing. Thomas describes Alby while delivering the banishment as, “Eyes bloodspot, face wrinkled, breathing heavily- he suddenly looked evil” (pg 92). The entire scene in general portrays the Gladers (except for Thomas) as monsters.
Blog Prompt #3- Character Analysis
The prominent characters in the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde are vastly different in their moral standing. One character particularly stands out in regards to his morality and behavior, and that is Dr Jekyll. The doctor has a dual personality similar to the narrator in the novel Fight Club, but with several key differences. Dr Jekyll made the decision to create his evil counterpart Mr Hyde with the intention to wreck havoc and evil at his pleasure. He chooses when to change between his personalities and he is cognitively aware of the damage that Hyde inflicts while in control of the body. Even after Mr Hyde tramples a young child and murders a man, Dr Jekyll still chooses to let that evil side of him win out. Additionally, the doctor lies to his closest friends (until the end of the novella) and although he writes that he was tormented and morally ashamed of his behavior, he does not take the necessary steps to rid of Hyde and mend his conscious and relationships with others. All of this being said, I believe Dr Jekyll is the real evil character in this story. He has the power to decide what image his reflection is going to take on, and he consistently chooses to reflect the evil side of him onto the rest of the world.
Blog Prompt #2- Reflection
The theme of reflection is important in this novel, especially as it pertains to the narrator. Throughout the story, the narrator seems to rapidly lose his sense of self identity. The reader gets through the entire story without ever knowing the the narrator’s real name, which reinforces the idea that the narrator cannot even piece a name to reflect who he is. Once the narrator comes to the realization that Tyler Durdan is a split personality of himself, he soon falls apart. Towards the end, when the narrator has decided that death is his only escape from Tyler, Project Mayhem, and everything terrible he has created, he notices that everything in his room is gone. “My mirror with a picture of my foot from when I had cancer for ten minutes. Worse than cancer. The mirror is gone.” (page 202). Whenever he first describes the “cancer” experience, he says that his birthmark is worse than cancer and that “the cancer I don’t have is everywhere now” (page 106). I believe both of these instances symbolize both the outward and inner destruction of the narrator’s life. Not only is the world around him spreading violence and social destruction in a cancerous rate and manner, but his reflection has been destroyed as well. Tyler Durdan has become an idea for the world to cling on to in order to relinquish their destructive thoughts and behaviors, and the narrator is forced to sacrifice the last of his existence in order to attempt to right the wrong that his mental illness has created.
Blog Prompt #1- Monsters
While the term “monster” generally provokes images of inhuman, terrifying beings, the type of monsters found in the novel, Fight Club, are of a completely different sort. From an outside perspective, the main characters may seem like average citizens, but they possess certain qualities that make them monstrous in a sense. Tyler Durden, for example, has made it his life’s mission to carry out personal, as well as social destruction. He has convinced our nameless narrator to follow him on this journey of destruction. Their acts of destruction so far include inserting pornographic frames into movies and peeing in rich peoples’ food. Marla Singer can be characterized as a monster because she is “ruining” the narrator’s life, as he puts it, and she becomes an ongoing obstacle for him. While this can certainly be perceived as monstrous behavior, there are other means to define “monster”. Society, money, and class could be considered as monsters because the main character is attempting to overcome these worldly possessions in order to find himself and actual happiness. Although it is difficult to understand and empathize with these characters and their questionable personalities, it becomes easier once the reader understands each character’s underlying motivations. The three main characters share the common goal of “hitting bottom” in order to gain a sense of freedom and control over their lives. The characters cannot be fully grouped together, however, because they come from different backgrounds and have different motivations for their thoughts and actions. The narrator is just now beginning to discover that on the journey of finding oneself, there will be monsters that must be either conquered or embraced, including oneself and the society we live in.
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