Saturday, April 16, 2011
Hedda Gabler
This was definitely an interesting play. Close attention must be paid to detail, in order to get a true understanding of the characters. Hedda comes off as a very cold and cynical person, but she does it in such a way that in the opening act, it could be easily be mistaken and leave the reader in confusion.
I finished reading the play on my own, and was still a little unsure of exactly what happened, and why. I knew that Eilert Loveborg had died, but I was a little uncertain as to whether or not he had shot himself with the pistol, given to him by Hedda. I was also curious if Hedda was indeed encouraging Loveborg to commit suicide.
After discussing the play in class, and hearing the interpretations from other people, I got a much clearer picture of the events that were taking place in the play. Hedda was obviously thinking that Loveborg would go to such an extreme when she came into possession of the manuscript and decided to burn it. We know now that Eilert’s intentions were to end his life, but it was not quite so apparent when he told Hedda that he’d lost the manuscript. Loveborg: “Well then you must also understand that she and I cannot possibly ever see each other again.” Hedda: “Where will you go?” Loveborg: “Nowhere. I just want to put an end to it all. As soon as possible.” Hedda: “Eilert Loveborg, listen to me. Do it beautifully (Ibsen 1508). It seems that Hedda is prepared to push Eilert to suicide before we even realize that he has decided to kill himself
I finished reading the play on my own, and was still a little unsure of exactly what happened, and why. I knew that Eilert Loveborg had died, but I was a little uncertain as to whether or not he had shot himself with the pistol, given to him by Hedda. I was also curious if Hedda was indeed encouraging Loveborg to commit suicide.
After discussing the play in class, and hearing the interpretations from other people, I got a much clearer picture of the events that were taking place in the play. Hedda was obviously thinking that Loveborg would go to such an extreme when she came into possession of the manuscript and decided to burn it. We know now that Eilert’s intentions were to end his life, but it was not quite so apparent when he told Hedda that he’d lost the manuscript. Loveborg: “Well then you must also understand that she and I cannot possibly ever see each other again.” Hedda: “Where will you go?” Loveborg: “Nowhere. I just want to put an end to it all. As soon as possible.” Hedda: “Eilert Loveborg, listen to me. Do it beautifully (Ibsen 1508). It seems that Hedda is prepared to push Eilert to suicide before we even realize that he has decided to kill himself
Hedda Gabbler 2.
Throughout the semester we have red various stories. Stories such as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, The Narrative Of Frederick Douglas, and Lu Xun’s Diary of a Madman.
My favorite story that we have read is Hedda Gabbler. Hedda Gabbler is a story that deals with power, infidelity, neglect, “ Yes. I often longed for a third person while I was away. Oh, those hours we spent alone in railway compartments.” and death “She shot herself! Shot herself in the head!” (Ibsen, 1518.) all which as the makings of a good soap opera. Soap operas take stories and fantasies of lives and turn them into entertainment. Entertainment that is hard to turn away from. Tey are very addictive. Soap operas are made to entertain and this story did just that. It kept me interested, made me upset, and I hated it ended the way it did.
Throughout the story as I was reading I often compared Hedda the main character to Victor Newman who is a popular character on the CBS soap opera The Young and The Restless. Like Hedda, Victor is a man who has the most control, power, and leverage over a lot of the residents in Genoa City. The main difference I saw in the two was I liked Victor and Hedda is someone I was not a fan of. The control she had over others she used in her own advantage and wa very selfish about it.
I here by support any efforts to turn this story into a soap opera, and hopefully like Young and the Restless it will remain on televisions for a long time.
Narrative of the Life of Fredrick Douglass, An American Slave
Fredrick Douglass talks of Captain Auld being “destitute of every element of character commanding respect” (Douglass 946). This is an interesting moment for me in the narrative because, as he goes on to describe the particularly harsh ways of Captain Auld, he pauses to point out a specific date and event that takes place. This turns out to be a topic of particular discussion, and in fact, is further discussed in the appendix. “In August, 1832, my master attended a Methodist camp-meeting held in the Bay-side, Talbot county, and there experienced religion. Indulged in a faint hope that his conversion would lead him to emancipate his slaves, and that, if he did not do this, it would, at any rate, make him more kind and humane” (Douglass 947).
Douglass’ only experience with religion is through the practices of his slave holders, and through simple observation, he takes notice to the more savage actions taken by the religious slave holders, as compared to the non-religious ones. Douglass explains in the appendix exactly what his views are on religion. “What I have said respecting and against religion, I mean strictly to apply to the slaveholding religion of this land, and with no possible reference to Christianity proper; for, between the Christianity of this land, and the Christianity of Christ, I recognize the widest possible difference-so wide, that to receive the one as good, pure, and holy, is of necessity to reject the other as bad, corrupt, and wicked. To be the friend of the one, is of necessity to be the enemy of the other” (Douglass 976).
Douglass’ only experience with religion is through the practices of his slave holders, and through simple observation, he takes notice to the more savage actions taken by the religious slave holders, as compared to the non-religious ones. Douglass explains in the appendix exactly what his views are on religion. “What I have said respecting and against religion, I mean strictly to apply to the slaveholding religion of this land, and with no possible reference to Christianity proper; for, between the Christianity of this land, and the Christianity of Christ, I recognize the widest possible difference-so wide, that to receive the one as good, pure, and holy, is of necessity to reject the other as bad, corrupt, and wicked. To be the friend of the one, is of necessity to be the enemy of the other” (Douglass 976).
The Guest.
Following the reading scheduled I read our next story by Alex Camus The Guest.
The story starts off with Daru whom is a schoolmaster “ watching the two men climb toward him.” (Camus, 2574.) The two men were Balducci who was the old gendarme whom he had known for a while, and an Arab man (who is never given a name) whom he captured for killing his cousin.
Daru was given a ask to bring the man in to Tinguit, which is the police headquarters. Daru isn’t too fond of this idea evidence which shows this is him stating “ What’s the story...Are you pulling my leg…The orders? I’m not…” (Camus 2576.)
He soon then gives into the task. Daru is very kind to the man by giving him a bed to sleep in, and giving him food to eat. At the end of the story Daru decided to leave the fate of the man in his own hands. The man then decides to turn himself in.
Throughout the story it seemed as if the man was trying to tell him something. When Daru asked him if he was afraid of being turned in, he responded with “ Are you sorry?” (Camus, 2579.) Daru wasn’t to sure of what he meant be it, and was actually annoyed.
It wasn’t until the end that Daru knew the meaning of that question. “ You handed over our brother. You will pay for this.” (Camus, 2582.)
I had to read the story twice to discover the meaning behind it. At first I felt that Daru gave the man the freedom to make his own decision.
Although the story can be interrupted in many ways in my opinion it mostly deals with loyalty. Beladucci felt Daru needed to be loyal to him and his people, just at the Arab man felt he should be with him.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)