"Frankenstein"- THE END!!!

"Polluted by crimes and torn by the bitterest remorse, where can I find rest but in death?" (page 211).

The ending of the book ends in death. Death, which was a recurring theme throughout the novel is once again present. As all of his victims died alone and in a state of pain, so shall the creation finally perish. He intends to take his own life and fulfill his creator's unfinished task. I find the monster's death to be insufficient for revenge. As he stated to Robert, death now seems soothing to him; "where can I find rest but in death?". Death is what he has been seeking all along and by affording him this wish, he is now no longer suffering because of the evils he has caused. In the last few pages of the novel, the reader learns that the monster claims to have felt remorse and agony for his evil actions. Like Victor, he wishes to die in order to feel pain no more. Once again, the monster parallels Victor in this way. They both wish death upon themselves in order to be free of their pain, agony, and guilt. In the end, they both achieve this wish to be freed from their earthly situations.

"Frankenstein"- Victor

Imagine this... you're at the movie theater seeing the newest and scariest movie that just came out. The beautiful girl who is being hunted my the villain hears a noise outside her house. All you can think is "don't go! don't do!!" Of course, the ditzy and clueless girl slowly, against her common sense, walks out side only to meet her ultimate demise.

This timeless scene which is present in most, if not all scary movies is also present in "Frankenstein." While it is slightly different, I see this beautiful and clueless girl to be similar to Victor. Throughout the novel he makes mistake after mistake only to be surprised by what occurs as a result. First, he makes this creation whom he sees as evil and horrid and yet allows it to go off on its own, to fend for itself. This was his first mistake. He realizes that what he did was wrong yet does nothing to fix it. Next, his baby brother, William is brutally murdered by this creation and Victor is the only human being who knows who the real killer is. Once again, he makes the same mistake by letting the monster get away with this murder and allowing Justine to be punished by death for this crime which she did not commit. Once again, Victor fails to atone for his mistakes. When Henry's inevitable death occurs, Victor exclaims in anguish and sorrow "Two I have already destroyed; other victims await their destiny; but you, Clerval, my friend, my benefactor" (page 169). He realizes that what he created has caused all this sorrow and anguish, and yet he allows this monster to continue his path of revenge. He plays the monsters game instead of going off in solitude to suffer alone. He once again walks into the monsters trap when he marries Elizabeth and then proceeds to leave her alone while he searches the house. In this moment especially, he becomes that sitting duck that is present in every scary story. It is at this moment, that I want to scream "open your eyes!! Can't you see what is going to happen? Go stop it! NOW!!!"

"Frankenstein"- theme

NATURE VS. NURTURE

Throughout the creation's early life, he characterizes himself as being kind, loving, and helpful. He tells stories of how he helped the De Lacey family and recounts the horrible ways in which he was treated throughout his life. It is not until he finally reveals himself to the family that he truly becomes evil. He recounts it, saying, "from that moment I declared everlasting war against the species, and more than all, against him who had formed me and sent me forth to this insupportable misery" (page 130). This moment in time is the turning point in the novel. The creation has finally reached his breaking point and can no longer sustain the horrible treatment he has endured. He decides that he will no longer treat the human race with respect and care, but will instead use his power and strength to cause destruction for all, especially Victor. This turning point in the novel proves that the creation was not my nature evil. He had lived a peaceful and good life up to this point. It was when nurture (society and environment) created in him this rage and lack of feeling that he finally became the evil monster that everyone always assumed him to be. He finally decided to take on the role which he had continuously been unjustly put into. It was ultimately his nurture that sent him into the downward spiral of evil and revenge.

"Frankenstein"- Foil Characters

"the young stranger knelt at the old man's feet and would have kissed his hand, but he raised her and embraced her affectionately" (page 112).

This passage which serves to characterize the family and Safie also serves to contrast the monster and Safie as foil characters. While Safie is beautiful and accepted, the creation is ugly and rejected from every human being. This difference of acceptance and rejection is one of the driving factors of the creation's rage. He sees how Felix and his family so openly accept and love Safie, so he expects at least some acceptance from them when he reveals himself. Instead, he receives rejection and is beaten by Felix which causes him much rage and sets him off on his path of evil and destruction. The creation describes Safie's voice as being musical and lovely. This also sets her apart from the creation as he is rough and scary, not sweet and musical. These two foils serve to show how the family truly was accepting and loving to human beings. It shows the extent of horror that the monster caused and serves to "set him off" on his path of rage.

"Frankenstein"- foreshadowing

Throughout Victor's narration, there are multiple points in which he foreshadows the unfortunate upcoming events which he will endure. For example, when he says, "the monster had blinded me to his real intention; and when I thought that I had prepared only my own death, I hastened that of a far dearer victim" (page 182). While the death of Elizabeth has yet to take place, Frankenstein is letting the reader know that some type of misfortune is going to take place without directly telling the reader what happened. This is not only foreshadowing, but it also creates much suspense. He leaves the reader wondering if Elizabeth will die and when she will die. The reader has no idea if their union will take place or if the now evil monster will steal her away before they have the time to be united in marriage. Also, this statement in some ways turns the reader against the monster as Victor claims that the monster deceived him. This same technique is used when Victor is re-telling his story earlier before Henry is murdered by the monster. These techniques which are repeatedly used show the reader the guilt and agony Victor has because of what his creation has done.

"Frankenstein"- THE MONSTER!!!

The so called "monster" depicted in the book up to this point is FAR from any monster i have ever imagined. Not only does he not suck out people's brains and kill everyone in sight, but actually performs good deeds and seeks the love and attention of human beings. He realizes early on that he is not wanted and that he must be careful as to who he allows to see him. He is treated horribly when people do see him and is therefore forced to live a life of solitude. As he tells Frankenstein when he is retelling his story, all he wants is someone to talk to and to treat him kindly. Instead of being evil, he actually goes out and actively does good. At one point in time he is actually described as being '"good spirit[ed]" and "wonderful" by the family who he helps out (page 109). Although they do not know his identity, they do know that there is a stranger who is clearing paths in the snow for them and gathering wood for them at night. This shows that he is not mistreated because he is "evil" or mean, but because he does not look like everyone else. He even says that "[he] longed to discover the motives and feeling of these lovely creatures" (page 109). He doesn't wish to hurt them or to scare them, but simply to be liked by them and treated with respect. He is just like every other human being and for this reason, I sympathize with "the monster" who is really not a monster at all.

"Frankenstein"- Connection

In "Frankenstein," one of the main themes is the guilt that Frankenstein feels for the supposed acts of his "creation." After the untimely deaths of both William and Justine, he expresses that he is "torn by remorse, horror, and despair," all of which caused because of the "first hapless victims to [his] unhallowed arts" (page 85). He admits that it is because of his acts to achieve such greatness that Justin and William had to die and he also puts all of this blame on himself. This guilt appears to be what is going to drive most of the novel and the actions which Frankenstein performs.

Like in "Frankenstein," guilt was also what drove the action in "The Kite Runner." Like Frankenstein, Amir was driven by his guilt for what had happened between Hassan and him and this also drove the action of the novel. He sought redemption and Frankenstein is also seeking a form of redemption through revenge when he decides he will seek out his creation. As Amir's guilt affected him throughout his entire life, the reader also gets a sense that the same is true for Frankenstein. This glimpse is shown through Robert Walton's testimony during the letters of the way Frankenstein acted. These two books are connected through this common theme of guilt and how to make things right again.

"Frankenstein"- Imagery

Throughout the novel, imagery is constantly present, playing a large role in the mood and meaning of the work. For instance, on page 92, while describing the imagery of the mountains, Frankenstein begins by describing it as calm and serene, saying, "the unstained snowy mountaintop, the glittering pinnacle, the pine woods, and ragged bare ravine, the eagle, soaring amidst the clouds-- they all gathered round me and bade me be at peace" (page 92). This imagery serves to set a peaceful tone and also serves to contrast the imagery in the next section. Directly after this imagery is presented, Frankenstein tells of how he fell asleep and also describes the scene he awoke to. He says, "all of soul-inspiriting fled with sleep, and dark melancholy clouded every thought. The rain was pouring in torrents..." (page 92). The sudden change in imagery here serves a specific purpose. It serves to hint that something bad or seemingly bad is going to happen. It allows the reader to know that something is going to happen which will damper Frankenstein's short-lasting peaceful spirits which were brought on by the beautiful nature. This event which brings him back down is his unexpected encounter with the monster. When he encounters the monster, all of his furry and rage is brought back to the surface and he is once again reminded of his guilt for the deaths of William and Justine. The imagery serves as a for-warning for what is about to come.

"Frankenstein"- theme

In "Frankenstein", one major theme which comes up during the monsters retelling of his story is that of nature vs. nurture, nature being that which people are inherently born with and nurture being what they are formed into by surrounding people or the environment. Unlike most misconceptions of the monster being a big green scary thing that is evil and takes out people's brains, the monster is not my nature "evil" or "big green and scary." When he is watching the family and learning of their unfortunate circumstances, the monster admits that "[he] had been accustomed, during the night, to steal part of their store for [his] own consumption, but when [he] found that doing this [he] inflicted pain of the cottagers, [he] abstained and satisfied [himself] with berries, nuts , and roots..." (page 106). Along with feeling regret for causing them pain, he also goes out of his way to make life easier on the family by gathering wood for them and clearing a path in the snow so the husband/son will not have to. This all shows that it was not in the monster's nature to be evil or bad, but he was actually kindhearted and caring. It is through nurture, that the monster learns how people act and also how to speak. Unfortunately, it is also because of nurture that he begins to despise people and want to cause him harm as he told Frankenstein when he encountered him on the mountain. People mistreated him so badly, that the nurture or environment around him cause him to want to do evil things.

"Frankenstein"- Frame Story

So far, "Frankenstein" has switched narration three times. Each time the point of view changes, a new story is told, making this novel a frame story. First, is Robert Walton with his letters to his sister. His purpose in the story line is to introduce Victory Frankenstein which happens when he picks up this "Pacific Hitchhiker" who then opens up to him telling the story of his past. The change happens when one day Frankenstein says that he feels Walton can learn from his past misfortunes telling Walton to

"listen to my history, and you will perceive how irrevocably it is determined" (page 29).

While sharing his past misfortunes, Victor includes the monsters life story, which provides another switch of narration. This happens when Victor encounters the monster he created and in trying to win over Victor, the monster shares what he has gone through. He pleads with him, saying "hear my tale; it is long and strange..." (page 97). This line which serves as a connection from Frankensteins story to the monsters story, is similar to the way in which Frankenstein approached Walton when asking to share his story. They both ask their listener to listen to the entire story before judging what has happened. Maybe, Frankenstein and the monster are more similar than Frankenstein originally believed.

"The Kite Runner"- Rahim Khan

"I remember he said to me, 'Rahim, a boy who won't stand up for himself becomes a man who can't stand up to anything.' I wonder, is that what you've become?'" (page 221). Throughout the novel, I was often confused as to who Rahim Khan was and what role he played in the storyline. It was during this section that I realized, Rahim Khan was in some ways Amir's living conscience who was always calling him back to his past life. Rahim Khan was not only Baba's business partner, but he also played the role of Amir's advisor throughout the majority of his life. He drew Amir's attention to things that he had not seen before and made him realize what he needed to do. It was during this passage that I realized the major role Rahim Khan plays in the novel. He is the one who leads Amir to Sohrab and redemption. He brings Amir and Hassan back together at last when he unites Amir with Sohrab. He also allows Amir to move on with his life with less blame and regret by passing on Hassan's letters to Amir. It is because of Rahim Khan that Amir is able to forgive himself and Sohrab is able to be saved and live a better life in America. Rahim Khan is in many ways Amir's spiritual guide and he leads him through the mazes of life.

"The Kite Runner"- Hassan and Amir

"Hassan had loved me once, loved me in a way that no one ever had or ever would again. He was gone now, but a little part of him lived on. It was in Kabul. Waiting" (page 227). In this passage, Amir finally realizes what he must do in order to make up for his "past of unatoned sins." He realizes that everyone in his life betrayed him in some way, but Hassan was the only person who had never done so. He also finally recognized the unwavering love that Hassan had for him. This passage shows that not only did Amir go to save Sohrab for redemption, but he also did it for Hassan. He went to save a boy he didn't even know simply because he loved his childhood friend that much. While at first, he was reluctant to go, he eventually came to his senses and realized what he must do. He broke out of his cowardice and came to terms with everything he had done. In a way, he was proving his unwavering love for Hassan by rescuing his son and bringing him back to safety. Because of what Amir finally did, he is one of my personal favorite characters. He realized the change he must make and he did what had to be done plus more.

"The Kite Runner"- dynamic character

"Then I did what I hadn't done in fifteen years of marriage: I told my wife everything. Everything. I had pictured this moment so many times, dreaded it, but, as I spoke, I felt something lifting off my chest" (page 325). At the beginning of the novel, Amir has trouble coming to terms with his past. He sees himself as a coward and he is constantly lying about his past. Because of his denials and lies, he faces many problems in his future life. Throughout the entire first half of the novel, Amir is battling with this internal conflict of the past he has lived and whether or not he should attempt to redeem himself or share his past with others. When he finally, goes to "make himself good again," he starts to make a dynamic change. He eventually goes to Afghanistan and the peak moment of his transformation from a coward to being brave and standing up for himself and others comes when he fights Assef and refuses to leave without Sohrab. Amir finally makes this cross-over for cowardice to bravery, and at the same time, achieves his redemption. When he calls Soraya and tells her about his past, he is once again making an important change and allowing others into his life to help him. Because of these changes Amir makes, he can be classified as a dynamic character.

"The Kite Runner"- theme

"What was so funny was that, for the first time since the winter of 1975, I felt at peace. I laughed because I saw that, in some hidden nook in a corner of my mind, I'd even been looking forward to this... I hadn't been happy and I hadn't felt better, not at all. But I did now. My body was broken- just how badly I wouldn't find out until later- but I felt healed. Healed at last. I laughed" (page289). The theme of redemption which shows up in this passage is a central focus and a theme throughout the novel. The action of the novel is driven by this need and want for redemption. It is because of his seeking of redemption that Amir goes to Afghanistan in order to save Sohrab. Throughout his entire life, he feels guilt because of his cowardice when Hassan was being raped. When Assef finally beats Amir close to death, he feels relief and redemption. He believes that he finally got what was coming to him. He achieves full redemption when at the end of the novel, he brings Sohrab back to America with him and helps him to start a new life. This particular passage describes the relief Amir felt when he finally began his redemption. He was so broken that when he was beat close to death, he felt healed. He finally believed he had gotten what he deserved all those years, to feel as hurt as Hassan had all those years before.

The Kite Runner- symbols

"I looked down at Sohrab. One corner of his mouth had curled up just so. A smile. Lopsided. Hardly there. But there... 'Do you want me to tun that kite for you?' His Adam's apple rose and fell as he swallowed. The wind lifted his hair. I thought I saw him nod. 'For you, a thousand times over,' I heard myself say" (page 371). Throughout the novel, kites are a recurring image: at the beginning, in the park in America, throughout Amir and Hassan's childhood, the day that Amir and Hassan's lives were changed forever, and in this final scene, when Amir achieves true redemption. Throughout the novel, kites represent hope in many different ways. In America, it shows up as a hope for redemption. Amir sees the kites after he has talked to Rahim Khan who offered him a chance at redemption. Even though the reader does not connect the kite with hope until later on, the symbol is still present. Because of Rahim Khan's offer, Amir has a hope for redemption. Later in the novel, kites show up in Amir's childhood. In this situation, they show up as Amir's hope/desire for his father's love. When he finally wins the kite fight, his hopes are granted and his father praises him and is finally proud of him. Because of Hassan's rape though, Amir no longer flies kites for a very long time. This is symbolic of a loss of all hope in Amir. He no longer has any hope for himself, therefore he sees himself as a coward and a failure in life. This leads to many of the problems of his young adult and adult life. The symbol of the kite shows up one last time at the very end of the novel. It is when they are flying kites that Amir finally sees Sohrab smile for the first time in over a year. By having this bonding moment while flying the kite, Amir finds hope that one day, Sohrab will be happy again. The kite symbolizes hope for Amir, Sohrab, and their whole family

"The Kite Runner"- personal

"'Tell him he's wrong. War doesn't negate decency. It demands it, even more than in times of peace" (page 115).

While reading, this excerpt jumped out at me. Not only does this episode characterize Baba, but it is also inspiring. This is the passage when Baba risks his own life for that of a woman he barely knows. He helps to save this woman from being raped by a soldier. It shows how Baba is really all about tradition and standing up for what he knows is right. He is courageous and sometimes reckless, but no matter what, he won't let such evils happen in his presence. The quote itself stuck out to me because Baba is pointing out that even in war, people deserve respect and he forces the Russian soldier to give it. He truly is a good man.

This section also causes more guilt to resonate within Amir. He sees Baba standing up to prevent a rape of a woman he barely knows, while Amir could not even stand up for Hassan who was his friend and like a brother. He questions his own worth once again and this highlights the differences between Baba and Amir once again. This whole section was inspiring to me and gave me a better outlook on Baba.

"The Kite Runner"- Symbolism

"I thought about Hassan's dream... I was that monster" (page 86).

This single symbol of Amir being the monster that drug Hassan down to the murky bottom of the lake is perfect to describe how he viewed himself after the rape. He knew that what he has done was wrong, but even so, he did not change his ways or tell anyone the truth about what had happened. Amir believed for all of his young adult and adult life that he was the thing that had ruined Hassan. He realized that if he had stepped in, Hassan could have been spared, but he was too much of a coward to do what was right. This symbol of Amir being the monster explains much of his young life. It explains the guilt and regret he feels for not helping Hassan. It also explains why he felt like he needed a clean slate and why America was the perfect place for him. This symbol shows that Amir honestly believed that the rape was completely his fault. While he could have stopped it or done something to redeem himself afterward, he was not solely responsible for the rape, as Assef and his friends were the perpetrators of the rape and therefore the most responsible.

"The Kite Runner"- Internal conflict

"I'd betrayed Hassan, lied, driven him out, and destroyed a forty-year relationship between Baba and Ali... I suspected there were many ways in which Soraya Taheri was a better person than me. Courage was just one of them" (page 165).

Throughout the novel, there is much internal conflict which is pulling Amir different ways. Most of this conflict is brought about by his regret for not stoping Hassan's rape. His internal conflict begins when he has to decide if he will make up lies to convince Baba to fire Ali as his servant. In the end, his coward side wins and he ends up making up lies which lead to Ali and Hassan quitting the job. He also faces conflict during this excerpt when he isn't sure if he can tell Soraya about his past with Hassan. In the end, he is once again a coward by his standards and is unable to tell Soraya exactly what happened between him and Hassan in the winter of 1975. He realizes that because of his past of sins, he has no right to judge Soraya for her past with another man. He sees his sins of being worse than anything Soraya could have possibly done. The original conflict of his unwillingness to rescue Hassan branches out into all aspects of Amir's life and even in his adult life, this one situation still greatly affects his everyday life.

"The Kite Runner"- Protagonist and Antagonist

"I wanted that, to move on, to forget, to start with a clean slate. I wanted to be able to breath again" (page 105).

While reading, I found the protagonist to be Amir. While he is not exactly a "hero," he is the one who drives the action. It is from him that most of the conflict arises. He creates the action and keeps it going through his cowardice during the rape of Hassan, his regret afterward, and his search for redemption. Although his hubris has not been revealed yet, I see it as being a lack of ability to forgive himself and to ask for forgiveness as well. He holds in his problems from his childhood and this leads to many conflicts in his life with Baba, Ali, Rahim Khan, Soraya, and Hassan.
I found the antagonist to be Hassan throughout the book. It is because of Hassan that Amir faces many problems in his life. The excerpt is evidence of this. It shows that because of Hassan, Amir feels he needs a "clean slate." It begins with internal conflict because of his regret for not helping to save Hassan when he had the chance to stop his rape. This internal conflict progresses into problems with Baba and even holds Amir back in his adult life. Hassan and the guilt Amir feels because of him that he cannot be completely honest with his wife and other friends and family members.

"The Kite Runner"- Point Of View

"I knew it wasn't just Rahim Khan on the line. It was my past of unatoned sins" (page 1).

This excerpt from the very beginning of the novel sets the tone and the point of view for the entire story. It shows the reader that the story is going to be told from the point of view of Amir, so it will be his opinions and memories which will be shown throughout the story. It sets the POV as first person. Also, it establishes the tone which Amir expresses throughout the majority of the novel. By speaking of his "unatoned sins," he shows that he has something in his past which he regrets. This single sentence causes suspense for the rest of the novel by suggesting that he had a bad past, but by keeping it vague. Also, is establishes his nostalgic tone and shows that the majority of the novel is going to be him looking back at his past. By establishing the point of view and tone at the very beginning, the narrator can give hints to the reader about what is to come without giving away too much. Along with this, he also shows his attitude toward what happened in his past.

Walter- A Raisin in the Sun

In A Raisin in the Sun, Walter faces many challenges. From the beginning, the stressful lifestyle the family lives is evident. The family is obviously struggling and is not very well off. The always present knowledge of the check they will receive only causes more problems. Walter has his own dreams and believes that because he is the man of the house, he should be able to decide what to do with the money. His idea of a smart investment turns out to be a scam and he loses all the money. I think that this horrible experience actually helped Walter to grow. He may lose all the money, but in the end, it is him who keeps the family together. He stands up against the white man in order to preserve his families honor. He also has the ulterior motive of his son. He knows that if he gives in and acts like a coward, he will be failing to show his son how "a real man" acts. In the end, he steps up and becomes a man for the family.

Realistic vs. Nonrealistic- A Raisin in the Sun

I thought that this play employed mostly realistic conventions. The dynamics of the family are realistic in that the family is not perfect and they fight often. The dialogue between them is realistic for the financial situation they have been put in. Their dreams of a better life and the eventual failure in achieving some of these dreams is also realistic. People will often be disappointed in their dreams just as Walter was with the liquor store and Benethea was with her dream of going to medical school. The dangers that the Younger's face because of racism and struggling equal rights are also realistic for the time they lived in. African American families were still fighting for their rights and were treated just as the Younger family was. In the end, the play was extremely realistic and their were little to none nonrealistic parts.

Themes in A Raisin in the Sun

A Raisin in the Sun has many themes which are expressed throughout the entire play. One theme which I noticed was the pursuit of the American dream and the struggle which comes along with it. The Younger family is the perfect example of a family which is struggling to reach the "American Dream" They are always looking to reach bigger and better things in life. This starts with Walter's outlandish dream to open up a liquor store with money that he just doesn't have. He ends up wasting the little money his family inherited on his dream which he thought would get him rich. Mama is also trying to achieve the American dream when she buys the house for her family to live in. The importance of family and the dysfunctional tendencies of a family are also highlighted in this play. While the family ends up seemingly okay in the end, there are many times when they struggle just as a normal family does. They fight and disagree many times, but in the end, they pull together for the good of the families honor.

Tom Wingfield

Throughout the play, I found Tom to be a very interesting character. He was miserable throughout the entire play and for this reason, he went to the "movies" until 5 am every day. His reasoning for this odd behavior was that he did not get enough adventure at his job so he liked to experience that adventure at the movies. I found this to be peculiar because going to the movies and getting highs off of things that other people are doing seems to be very weird. Instead of going out and experiencing things on his own and creating his own adventure, he feeds off of other peoples. He seems to be a very unreliable son and brother as he constantly complains about having to support them, goes out drinking every night, and eventually turns out just like his father. Throughout the entire play, Amanda is trying her hardest to raise her children (although she is a bit naggy at times). At the end, it turns out that everything she was hoping for and striving for for her son turns out to be a complete failure. He leaves the family to support themselves and ends up just as his father did.

Dramatic Suspense

While this play does not contain much dramatic suspense, I found some in the scene with Laura and Jim O'Connor. I thought suspense was created when Laura is finally speaking to Jim and beginning to open up to him. Finally, when Jim leans in to kiss Laura, the suspense reaches its peak. As a reader, I was believing that Laura had finally found someone who accepts her and will eventually marry her. If this was a fairytale, this probably would have happened. Instead, the suspense is built even more when the audience is informed that Jim is engaged and will never be speaking to Laura again. In some ways, this leads to a tragedy for Laura, but as a reader, I believe that this encounter with Jim has helped Laura to come out of her shell. Jim taught Laura to open up and to accept herself for who she is. Whether she took this lesson and applied it is unknown, but I like to think that she did.

Realistic vs. Nonrealistic

From the beginning of The Glass Menagerie, Tom allows it to be known to the audience that this play is nonrealistic. He tells the audience that he is "the narrator of the play, and also a character in it." This aspect is one of the nonrealistic aspects of the play. It is impossible for a person to be the narrator and a character at the same time. Also, he tells the audience that "the play is memory." This also sets up for a nonrealistic play because memory is often different from real life. It looks at these from a convenient perspective and only sees one person's point of view. Also, the many music cues which conveniently appear throughout the play are nonrealistic. These cues serve to reflect the feelings of characters and what is going on. Also, the scene where the father's photo conveniently lights up when the son is speaking of him is nonrealistic. This is a figment of the son's imagination because this is how he remembers this encounter with his sister taking place. One of the realistic aspects of the play is the dialogue between the characters. They fight how people normally would and apologize as well. They also relate and have dynamics like a normal family has.

Othello #3

When reading Othello, I felt extremely bad for Desdemona. She was obviously faithful to Othello, and yet she was blamed for and killed for something she did not do. She loved Othello deeply and the last thing she experienced in her life was Othello, her lover, murdering her. Even when she was close to death, she still defended and loved him as she did not turn him in for murdering her. I also felt bad for her because she was forced to leave her father behind in order to be with her lover. It seems to me that it would be extremely difficult to leave behind family for your husband. Also, not only did she leave behind her father, but he died and then she was killed by her lover. Could anyone ask for a worse life?

Othello #2

There is some dramatic suspense in this play and it is created mostly through Iago. The audience constantly knows Iago's plans, but the suspense is created in not knowing whether or not his plans will work out. The audience also constantly knows that Iago's ultimate plan is to kill Cassio and suspense is created here when the audience does not know if it is Roderigo or Cassio whom is going to die. While the audience may know Iago's plan the whole play, the other characters have no idea. Throughout the play, they refer to Iago as the most honest person they know. They seem to worship him in some ways and nobody sees past his facade. Not even his own wife knows the full extent to his plan. He pretends to be kind and truthful and this provides suspense because the audience knows that at some point in time, his plan will fall apart and he will be discovered.

Othello

This play is a tragedy. From the beginning, the audience knows that something tragic is likely to happen because of Iago's determination to get revenge. Iago proves himself to be stoic through the action of the play and eventually, he is the character who causes all of the tragic events to occur. Tragedy is the only type of drama that is really used in this story as there is little romance and it is short lasting. The only romance that is in the play is between Othello and Desdemona, but this is short lasting. When he becomes jealous, he is no longer romantic with Desdemona. It is important that the audience realize this is a tragedy because they need to recognize the evil ways and manipulative ways of Iago. The tragic form of the play is completed at the end when the majority of the characters die, including Othello, Iago, Desdemona, and Emilia.

Othello

So far, I hate found Othello to be slightly confusing, but as I have read more, I have began to understand more. One of my favorite characters is Desdemona at this time. I like her because she seems to stand up for herself and for women in general. When Iago was saying what he thought about different types of women, she says he is "worse and worse." She also did not marry a guy just because she was told to. She stood up for what she wanted and married Othello even though he was a "black man." I liked that even though this may not have been what everyone else wanted, she still went with her heart. I'm not sure if this was her only intent, but from the information I have been given I like her as a character. She also seems to be seriously in love with Othello. As of right now, she is my favorite character.

Othello: antagonist vs. protagonist

In Othello, Othello stands out as the protagonist. He is the so called "hero" of the story, as he has everything. He is looked up to by many because of his war experience and he is an amazing fighter. He also has the perfect woman and many people are jealous of the luxury life he lives. Like many protagonists, he also has a downfall which is being caused in many ways but the antagonist, Iago. Iago is the "evil" one who is attempting to cause the downfall of Othello. He is doing this because he wants revenge on Othello for supposedly sleeping with his wife. He is the person whom is keeping the action going through his destructive plan. He is the man who is attempting to destroy everything that Othello has built up. In the first three chapters, I have found a few foil characters. I saw Iago and Cassio as foiling each other. While Iago is evil, but falsely honest, Cassio is seen as evil while he is really honest. Cassio is also very respectful and loving toward women. Iago treats women as if they are property and says extremely offensive things about them. For example he speaks of his wife by saying, "you are pictures out of doors, bells in your parlors, wildcats in your kitchens, saints in your injuries, devils being offended, players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds." As this shows, he says very offensive things and is not much of a charmer while Cassio is a charmer. Also, Emilia and Desdemona foil one another as Emilia seems to stand back and take Iago's crude comments while Desdemona speaks her mind and says what she thinks of of his comments.

Othello: Themes

The main theme that i have found in the first three Acts of Othello is jealousy. It seems that all characters are jealous at some point in time. The story starts off from the beginning with the theme of jealousy. Iago begins the play by expressing his jealousy of Cassio because he was placed as Othello's lieutenant. The story then transitions to Roderigo's jealousy of Othello for marrying Desdemona. Throughout the next three acts, the theme of jealousy is easily detectable. The story is driven by jealousy, as it is Iago whom keeps the action going through his plan of revenge on everyone. He turns the other characters against each other and even causes jealousy in Othello by making him believe his wife has found another lover. Jealousy is what causes most if not all problems between the characters.