Jim: "Poor little fellow, he must feel sort of lonesome."
Laura: "Well, if he does he doesn't complain about it. He stays on a shelf with some horses that don't have horns and all of them seem to get along nicely together." ("The Glass Menagerie" Scene 7 - p. 1281)
A glass unicorn is the perfect choice for this play. Unicorns are mythical creatures that only possess one difference from horses - a horn. In the excerpt, Jim worries that the unicorn will not fit in with the other horses because he is so different; however, Laura tells Jim not to worry because the unicorn doesn't seem to mind. The unicorn is a symbol for Laura as a person. Laura also has a visible difference that makes her different from the rest of society - her physical handicap. Just as the unicorn, Laura does not feel self-conscious about her handicap anymore because she has become accustomed to her way of life. Besides her physical handicap, Laura also possesses a mental illness which prevents her from moving forward in her life. This does not allow her to fit in just as the unicorn's horn will never disappear. Because she is so different, Laura feels lonely and becomes attached to her glass collection. Jim attempts to coax Laura out of her shy state, but Laura soon returns to her own world when Jim tells Laura that he is engaged. In my opinion, Jim is a pretty big jerk.
Speaking of unicorns, here is one of my favorite unicorn moments of all time!
Tom: "Man is by instinct a lover, a hunter, a fighter, and none of those instincts are given much play at the warehouse!" ("The Glass Menagerie" Scene 4 - p. 1253)
Tom is obviously unhappy with his life - everyday, Tom does the exact same routine making little money at the warehouse and living with his mother. Amanda mentions that her children are "different;" however, is Tom really as different as she thinks? In the excerpt above, Tom dreams of bigger and better things beyond the warehouse. It seems as if Amanda gave up on Tom because her plans with Laura did not work out. Amanda considers Tom a failure without even giving him a chance. This quote foreshadows Tom's plan of leaving his family to join The Union of Merchant Seamen. The only problem with this plan is Tom is the bread-winner of the family; without his paycheck, the light bill will not be paid. Tom's plan shows that he is a selfish character without any regard for his mother or sister. Even though his mother treated him as a slave, it is still not right for him to leave his family behind especially not Laura. Tom is not a lover, hunter, or fighter, and personally, I do not believe he can do any of these things on his own. Because of his mother, he is extremely dependent on the family while his family relies on him.
Amanda: "I've seen such pitiful casses in the South - barely tolerated spinsters living upon the grudging patronage of sister's husband or brother's wife! - stuck away in some little mouse-trap of a room - encouraged by one in-law to visit another - little birdlike women without any nest - eating the crust of humility all their life!" ("The Glass Menagerie" Scene 2 - p. 1243)
In "The Glass Menagerie," Laura suffers from many different obstacles. At the beginning of the story, we find that Laura is crippled and wears a leg brace. Later, Laura reveals that she dropped out of business school because of her shyness. Laura has an extremely hard time fitting in with society; I believe she has a mental condition such as autism which causes her to be timid and obsessed with one thing such as the glass horse.
In the excerpt above, Amanda, Laura's mother, tells Tom her worries about Laura. Amanda is worried that Laura will never find a husband and spend her life dependent on the family. Amanda uses a metaphor to describe her daughter as a lost bird without any nest. Amanda worries that without a feeling of belonging, Laura will possess low self-esteem; however, this is ironic because Laura already possess a low-esteem due to her mother's pressure and outlandish actions.
This part of the story reminds me of a Dr. Seuss book called "Are You My Mother?" Throughout the story, the little bird tries to find its' home and family just as Laura attempts to find a husband she can belong to.
"I love Aliena; say with her that she loves me; consent with both that we may enjoy each other: it shall be to your good; for my father's house and all the revenue that was old Sir Rowland's will I estate upon you, and here live and die a shepherd." (V.ii.69)
In this play, Oliver is a dynamic character. Through the acts, he experiences changes that morph his personality. In Act I, Oliver treats his brother Orlando like dirt. Instead of sending him to school to get an education, he treats him as a peasant. At one point, Oliver agrees to kill his younger brother in order to please Duke Frederick. After agreeing to this, Oliver experiences a change in personality. Duke Frederick's threats and mistreatment toward Orlando actually make Oliver want to defend his brother. Another event that changed Oliver is when he falls in love with Aliena. In the excerpt above, Oliver says that he will give up his former life in order to live the life of a shepherd with his girl. This means that Oliver actually cares about someone other than himself and things other than riches. Also, he decides to give his estate to Orlando - this is a major jump. In Act V, Oliver loves his brother enough to leave his own possessions to him. Without dynamic character's, the story line would never progress and no theme would be projected to the reader.
Touchstone: "It is said, 'many a man knows no end of his goods:' many a man has good horns, and knows no end of them." (III.iii.47)
I would have to say, Touchstone is by far my favorite character in this play. Instead of a jester, I think Touchstone should just become a philosopher. But sadly, philosopher's were probably considered the fools of that time anyways.
In Touchstone's speech in Act III, he keeps referring to "horns." He states that "as horns are odious they are necessary." Horns are given to deer and other creatures in order to fight and protect themselves. Without knowledge of how to use these horns properly, they are useless. The same thing applies to humans. We are all given talents and gifts, but without the proper knowledge, these gifts may go to waste. We must find purpose and meaning for our talents to make a difference in the world. I found it a little ironic that Touchstone says this right before he is about to be married by Oliver to Audrey so that he can easily divorce her. Touchstone seems so moral, but he proves to also be a true fool.
Duke Senior: "Hath not old custom made this life more sweet Than that of painted pomp? Are not these woods More free from peril than the envious court?" (II.i.17)
Native to the life of the city, Duke Senior is totally out of his element in the wild. First of all, Duke Senior and Jacques show pity for killing a deer in the forest as dinner. A true huntsman would not even care about the life of the deer. But yet, Duke Senior still praises the country life.
In the excerpt above, Shakespeare uses rhetorical questions to illustrate Duke Senior's current attitude about his situation. Since he was banished from his own kingdom, the Duke is attempting to make the best of his situation. He simply states that his life in the forest is free of worry and care. Also, his surroundings are more natural and not as showy and ornate. The Duke literally has no responsibilities or work. Instead, he can focus on one thing - survival. Rhetorical questions emphasize the thought process of the Duke to the audience allowing the audience to feel more connected with the characters.
When flipping through a magazine, expensive ads line the pages with beautiful men and women displaying various name-brand clothing and shoes. These flawless models seem to live the perfect life possessing beauty, money, and fame; however, behind the surface, many models suffer from drug abuse, anorexia, and self-confidence issues. Media and ads in our world today perfectly display the difference between appearances and reality. Taking a closer look at the seemingly perfect lives of celebrities reveals a world filled with hardship and suffering. Shakespeare’s “Othello,” The Hunger Games, and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil all contain one timeless theme: appearances and reality are not always the same. In the play “Othello, the Moor of Venice,” appearance and reality constantly contradict one another. Iago spreads lies and rumors about each of the characters creating malicious violence and drama. One specific instance from the play is when Othello listens to a conversation between Iago and Cassio. Iago purposely designs the conversation so that Othello believes that Cassio is speaking about Desdemona in a derogatory manner; however, Cassio only speaks of Bianca, his prostitute. During the conversation, Cassio mocks Bianca, stating, “I marry her! What a customer! I prithee bear some charity to my wit. Do not think it so unwholesome. Ha, ha, ha” (IV.i.117-118). After hearing this line, Othello believes that Cassio is only using his wife for pleasure and does not truly love her. In reality, Cassio has done no wrong to Othello; however, Iago causes the conversation to appear in a different manner. At the end of the scene, Bianca arrives with the handkerchief, which Othello gave to Desdemona.
Othello being manipulated by Iago.
Othello assumes that Desdemona gave Cassio the handkerchief who in turn carelessly handed it off to his prostitute. This false appearance of reality seals Desdemona’s fate – death by Othello.
In the novel The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collinsuses the manipulation of appearance in order to hide the reality of a dark situation. The story is set thousands of years into the future after the destruction of the modern world. Civilization splits into twelve districts that are ruled by the Capitol. In order to enforce order and prevent rebellion, the Capitol requires two tributes from each district to fight to the death in the hunger games. This event is televised so that every district views the violence occurring. Before the event, a parade featuring the twenty-four tributes takes place in the Capitol. The tributes wear flashy costumes that appeal to the rich, self-centered people of the Capitol. Katniss Everdeen, a tribute from District 12, states, “the people of the Capitol are going nuts, showering us with flowers, shouting out names, our first names, which they have bothered to find on the program” (Collins 70). The hunger games mean that death is certain for twenty-three of the contestants; however, the people of the Capitol ignore this fact, glorifying the event with money and riches. The Capitol forces the games to appear positive for the nation, bringing peace and fame to the districts. In reality, the games cause murder, hardship, and family tension. The Capitol attempts to keep order through this convoluted view, but rebellion soon follows.
The surrounding slums of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
One of the most witnessed spectacles in the world is the Olympic Games. Every country in the world dreams of making an appearance or even hosting the Olympics because this event brings not only fame but also wealth to the host. In 2016, the Olympic Games will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a country gripped by crime and poverty. Statistics show that around 20 people are assassinated per day in Rio. In addition, Rio holds the largest gap of economic inequality in the world (Zibechi). With all eyes on the city, the government must act to hide the reality of the situation in Rio and keep visitors safe. The government of Brazil plans to build walls around the poorest areas of Rio to contain the poor; however, thousands of people are murdered or disappear each day causing many to believe a genocide to be taking place. Vera Malaguti, a general secretary of Rio Institute of Criminology, describes the government’s plan as “a project of urban cleansing under the guise of restoring order to the city, for the benefit of the World Cup, the Olympics, and all capital investment that is flowing into Rio” (Zibechi). Through murder and deceit, Brazil will gain this ideal image demanded by the world. In reality, the view seen on the television will greatly differ from the events taking place on the other side of the wall.
In a world filled with technology, appearances and reality tend to differ more than ever. In “Othello,” The Hunger Games, and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, these differences led to negative results. Without knowledge of the truth, people are led in the wrong direction causing little progress. For example, in the State of the Union Address given by the president, only positive, encouraging words are spoken to the citizens of the United States. Without the full truth, America has little chance to grow and become more successful. In order to succeed as a nation, America must fully understand the reality of all positive and negative situations. When this occurs, appearance and reality will become one.
Obama giving the State of the Union Address.
Works Cited
Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic, 2008. Print.
Zibechi, Raúl. "Rio De Janeiro: Control of the Poor Seen as Crucial for the Olympics." Upside Down World. 20 Jan. 2010. Web. 13 Feb. 2012. <http://upsidedownworld.org/main/news-briefs-archives-68/2325-rio-de-janeiro-control-of-the-poor-seen-as-crucial-for-the-olympics>.
In the song "Set Fire to the Rain," Adele sings about a man who manipulated her in a relationship. One part of the song says:
"But there's a side to you
That I never knew, never knew.
All the things you'd say
They were never true, never true,
And the games you play
You would always win, always win."
These lines perfectly describe Emilia's feelings toward Iago when she discovers that Iago lied to Othello about Desdemona. This song is full of bitter emotion toward another person; Emilia is also bitter after finding that her husband basically caused the death of her best friend. Iago constantly played games throughout the entire play. He only told the truth when he was alone on stage. Iago "won" his games because he caused the death of his own wife, Othello, and Desdemona, destroying any power that Othello had over himself. I believe the only reason Iago manipulated others was so that he could feel powerful. Although Iago does not replace Cassio, he is able to take out Othello who was admired by the Senate. I think the creepy smile at the end of play really explains everything...
Lodovico (to Iago): "O Spartan dog, More fell than anguish, hunger, or the sea! Look on the tragc loading of this bed: This is thy work." (V.ii.360-364)
Iago, my fave.
Tragedy or comedy? Pretty tough decision, but I'm going to have to go with tragedy. When the story closes, a total of four people have died: Desdemona, Emilia, Othello, and Roderigo. Unfortunately, Iago is injured not to the point of death. This play also combines elements of a melodrama due to an appeal to the emotions. For example, the work calls for sympathy for Othello and hatred for Iago due to his evil plan (and creepy smile). I think to really understand the play, the audience must first experience elements of the play such as Iago's annoying qualities and Roderigo and Othello's stupidity. Without this, the type of drama can never be discovered. Typically, in a Shakespeare tragedy, everyone dies at the end; however, the information that led to the deaths is pertinent in the understanding of the character's emotions and misunderstandings. Emotions are a key factor in all plays, but most especially in a tragedy. Without the suspense and intensity leading up to the end, I probably would not have paid much attention to the story. The element of tragedy is built into the dramatic irony and suspense making the work more interesting than depressing.
Othello: "Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men." (IV.ii.6)
At the beginning of the play, I really liked Othello; he seemed like a really chill guy. I mean, he was a war hero, and he truly did love Desdemona. Over the course of the final act, I really lost a lot of respect for the guy. Let's start with the excerpt mentioned above. So, let me get this straight: the only way to get a person to stop doing something bad is to kill them? If the world really ran this way, there would be complete and utter chaos. Two wrongs do not make a right, but in the mind of Othello, he is always right. Typical alpha male attitude (strike #1). Secondly, Othello listens to everything Iago says. I mean come on! Does anyone in this play have an independent mind!? Roderigo, Othello, and Cassio are all manipulated by Iago in some way, shape or form, creating his own puppet show. The only people who are smart enough to stay away from the man are Desdemona and Emilia, the two women in the play. I think this shows that the women are the most independent characters in the play sticking to their opinion and standing up for what they think. Shakespeare may be making a social commentary on his time where women were constantly mistreated. With this play, Shakespeare defines women as strong, moral people with strong ideas and opinions, the opposite of the view of society.
Roderigo: "Every day, thou daffest me with some device, Iago, and rather, as it seems to me now, keepest from me all conveniency." (IV.ii.175-176)
Finally, someone figures out that Iago may not be as honest as everyone thinks. But of course, it is Roderigo, one of the least independent of the bunch...
In the excerpt above, Roderigo mentions that Iago may not be all that he promises; however, later he falls into Iago's trap, telling Iago that he will kill Cassio. This dramatic irony creates suspense for the reader. Suspense is created many times throughout Act IV. In this act, Iago is finalizing his plan, slowly sowing seeds of treachery and lies along the way. For example, Bianca returns angrily to Cassio after finding that the handkerchief Cassio had given her "belonged to another woman." When Othello witnesses this scene, he assumes that Desdemona gave the handkerchief to Cassio, and Cassio in turn gave it to Bianca, his prostitute. We, the audience, know for a fact that this is not the case because we saw Iago plant the handkerchief in Cassio's path; however, this creates suspense because the audience is constantly waiting on the moment when the characters finally figure out the truth. The audience possesses a significantly greater amount of information than all of the characters because we are able to witness every character's emotions and thoughts through soliloquies and stage directions. This effect allows the audience to better understand the dramatic irony of the play.
