Cuckoo's Nest: Four

Unfortunately the end of the story didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to, but it was a twist because I didn’t think that McMurphy would lose his long fight against the Big Nurse. Nurse Ratched won, but with every win there comes a loss and that loss was McMurphy’s life. McMurphy sacrificed everything in order to show the other men that it was time to stand up against the Nurse, and the men learned a lot from it. They all believed in McMurphy, and he did not die in vain because those men all went through changes after spending time with McMurphy. He built up confidence in them, and they will never lose that confidence. Chief Broom escaped that terrible ward and was reunited with his family and friends after long years in the combine. Nurse Ratched as always regains control over the ward. She is now able to call it “her’s” again. The loss of McMurphy weighed greatly on most of the men, but it allowed for Nurse Ratched to take over again.

Cuckoo's Nest: Three

Nurse Ratched plays a major role in this book and I would like to blog about her for this entry. Nurse Ratched as described by Chief Broom is said to be very pretty, but at the same time she is everyman in the wards nightmare. Her main purpose is to instill fear into the men in the ward. She wants everybody to be afraid of her, and she wants to make it known that she has the upper hand when it comes to anything. She will always win no matter what. She constantly puts the men down instead of helping the get better. She does this because she does not want the men to be cured, she wants them to stay there. She is manipulative and can’t be trusted. She has spies all around the ward, and she knows everything about everyone. She does everything in her power to make the men feel weaker than she is for the sole purpose of preventing them to rebel against her, but that isn’t the case when it comes to McMurphy. McMurphy serves ad Nurse Ratched’s character foil in the book. McMurphy is doing everything in his power to change the others and to get them to rebel, which is why he took the men on the fishing trip. Nurse Ratched is starting to realize the McMurphy is no good and is ruining everything that she made. She is slowly starting to fall apart.

Cuckoo's Nest: Two

In Part Two we are really introduced to the character of McMurphy. At first McMurphy is considered the tough, rule breaking man of the ward. As the book goes on you begin to see the McMurphy slowly begins to become like every other patient, and he stops rebelling and just follows the Big Nurses rules. When he begins to do this he notices that the other patients aren’t looking at him the same way as they did before. This is when he realizes that he has an obligation to get the rest of the patients out of the trance they are in and give them a reality check. The fact that McMurphy has confidence in himself, and stands up to the Big Nurse shows the patients that he is somebody to be trusted and somebody who will protect them. He becomes somewhat of a role model to them. I would really like to see how far McMurphy’s character gets him in this book.

Cuckoo's Nest: One

When we were first introduced to the idea of reading the Cuckoo’s nest I really did not know what to expect. As we began to read the book it started to grow on me. Part One went into deep explanation of both Chief Broom and Nurse Ratched’s character. Chief Broom believes that the ward is basically for people who do not fit into society, or people who have been disowned from society due to their mental health issues. He explains all of the pressures associated with conformity. Those who do not conform are considered as mistakes. These people are then labeled ill and are sent away to institutions for the mentally insane, even if there is nothing mentally wrong with them. The ward is somewhere where the normal people of society believe that these people can be cured, and the people that are receiving treatment for no reason eventually begin to believe that there is something really wrong with them due to the way society looks at them. I find it very hard to define the word “insane” after reading part one because none of the patient’s are what we consider insane today. What Keesey’s main point is, is that if you don’t become what society wants you to become then you are frowned upon and you need to be fixed. This theme is also present in the book we just finished reading, 1984 by George Orwell.

Lantern Theatre Reaction

It was very hard for me to read the actual play because I really didn’t understand the language, and Hamlet isn’t one of my favorite writers. I became easily bored with the play, but seeing the play gave me a different outlook. I am more of a visual learner, and watching the play gave me a better understanding of the plot and characters. I thought that the character of King Claudius was played exactly the same as the character portrayed in the book. He was manipulative, but yet caring and sincere at the same time. I thought that the old but modern costumes were great. I also liked how the actors interacted with the audience during the play, especially when they directed their lines to one person in the audience and made them feel uncomfortable. I thought that was pretty entertaining. The only thing that I didn’t like was the simple set that they performed on. It really didn’t hold my attention, but once the actor’s came on to the stage I barely even looked at the scaffolding. All in all I believe that the actors did a great job, and I would go see the play again.

Hamlet Post 2

In Act two of Hamlet many of the characters have developed. At first I disliked the character of King Claudius but now after reading Act Two his character has grown on me. Claudius is worried about Hamlet’s well being because he thinks that he is going crazy and that something is wrong with him. He is more concerned with Hamlet than ruling is country, and that can be a very bad thing. Also Hamlet is beginning to not do what he is supposed to do. He is more worried about defeating Claudius than the well being of his country, family, and friends. There is also the play that Hamlet puts on in Act Two in order to get a rise out of King Claudius. This is Hamlet’s way of expressing how he feels, and making his feelings known to Claudius and his mother.

Hamlet Post 1

When I first found out that we were reading Hamlet, I really did not like the idea, but as we began reading the play grew on me. The first couple of scenes of the play gave me the basic background information I needed in order to understand the play. In scenes one and two Hamlet’s belief in ghosts is brought to our attention and I thought that this was interesting. All of the characters in the play are clueless as to why the ghost keeps coming to visit them, but they all assume that it is a bad omen. Also within the first two scenes the relationships between characters are shows. Like the one between Hamlet and his mother, and also Hamlet and King Claudius’s relationship. Hamlet loves his mother but he hates the fact the she is married to Claudius. Hamlet knows what Claudius’s real motives are and that is not the love for his mother but for the love of the throne.

Romantic Poetry Post

1) Imagination is usually always represented in Romantic poetry. Imagrey is used in the poem, but i would not consider the poem to be only focused around imigination. The descriptions provided of the various places in the poem are very well written, which creates imagrey for the reader. The poem transitions from somewhat of a "happy" place to that of an "dark" place. The poem was written based on Coleridge dreams. I also believe that the poem is ment to warn readers not to desire and want to much. He does not want people to have wild imaginations, and for people to not get so lost in their dreams, so that they won't forget about reality.

2) In Ozymandias, I believe there to be three main speakers. The speakers are the main speaker, the traveler, and, and the leader/King. The main speaker was nothing but a narrator to tell the story. The main speaker told the story of the "traveler" and he journey through the old city and ruins. The King otherwise know as Ozymandias was a very self centered ruler who only cares about himself, and is ignorant to everybody's wants and needs. The poem is about how a King wants to much, and because of his ignorance his kingdom fell.

Blake Writing Assignment

1) I agree with the opinion of Blakes poetry. Blake uses great imagery in his poetry in order for the reader to get pictures in their mind as to what is actually happening. Blake had the ability to enact social change through his writing, and that is what I believed he accomplished. This poem was directed twoards poverty stricken people, as well as people who were trying to help decrease poverty. Both poems basically focus on adults, children, and families lives during very very hard times. Blake wrote this poem for everybody to read, not just the wealthy. Blake wanted to promote change in both the way people thought, and how the government dealt with these situations.

2)The document the followed the poems provided background information on what it was really like for children during this time. It included descriptions of the labor that they did as well as the struggles they went through. I believe that this document was meant for people to have sympathy twoard the children, and that is exactly what it did to me. The document was put there in order to back the point that conditions during this time were horrible, and the treatment of children was disgusting, and cruel. This document made me realize the grewsome side of child labor.

Gulliver's Travel's Group Prep Work

1) My questions going into the teacher groups were as follows: Why were the people of Lilliput so nice to Gulliver?, Was Swift trying to satirize something when writing this?, Why did Gulliver choose to stay trapped when he could of so easily escape?, and How did Gulliver arrive at this place?

2)My small teacher group consisted of me, Rob, and Gabby. When we first got into groups I found it hard to talk, because i really don't like group work that much because I feel as if my thoughts are somewhat "stupid". But finally when I heard my group members questions, I realized that we had some of the same questions. After we got to talking I loosend up and started giving my input on the predictions I came up with for some of our questions. I believe the good part about working in groups is that you discover that people sometimes share the same thoughts as you, so you dont always seem like the oddball. The only bad part was that we had different ways of how we wanted to show our thoughts, but eventually we all came to an agreement.

3)I believe that on monday we will go about our group work the same way that we have been doing it because we have all reached a medium. I think that we might change the format of our poster, but thats about it as far as change goes. My group decided just to present our poster the way we have laid it out which includes our questions, quotes to back the questions, and finally our thoughts and predictions. We just hope to get feedback from the class.

1984 Final Assignment

Obriens statements twoards the end of the novel, basically clairfy what we already know about The Party, and the method behind their madness. Obrien proclaims that The party is always right with whatever they do. The Party wants everybody to think the same way, and believe the same way so that their can be no questioning of anything. If everybody has the same beliefs there would be no questions regaurding anything because everybody would be on the same page. The Party's methond behind "brain washing" people is so that there will be no conflicting thoughts to promote rebellion. The Party will always change how people when ever they want in order to fit their own political agenda. Everybody must be submissive in order to be considered "sane". Obrien claims that Winstons "insanity" got him to where he is now. By not believing that the party has absolutle power has caused Winston to be his own demise. Winston chose not to be ignorant when it came to what the party was doing. Winston knew all the truth's, and he knew that the Party was only manipulitating people to get where they wanted to be. This is why Winston is said to be "insane". The only way for Winston to survive is to become "sane". He must do this by admitting that Big Brother controls all, and agree to follow their pathetic rules and regulations. In the end Winston becomes brainwashed in the Ministry of Love. Despite all of his strong, true, previous beliefs, WInston finally admits his true love for Big Brother and accepts him as his ruler. Now Winston is finally "sane" in the eyes of Big Brother.

Themes of 1984

In George Orwell’s novel 1984 many themes are presented. I have chosen to discuss the themes of 1984 in my commentary. One of the main themes of the novel is psychological manipulation. The Party doesn’t allow people to think as individuals. It only allows people to think how the Party wants them to think. The Party fills their minds with propaganda and makes the people believe that they are “always doing right by the people” all the time, even when they are doing wrong.
Along with all psychological manipulation there usually is some kind of physical control involved. Physical control is another one of the themes of 1984. The Party constantly watched the people 24 hours a day in order to try to catch them doing something that are not supposed to be doing. The Party makes everybody participate in exercises every morning and make them work long days of work. The Party does this in order to keep the people physicals exhausted as well as miserable. Also when people are arrested they are forced to endure extreme torture. For example, Winston is tortured for a long period of time. From being tortured he comes to terms with himself that nothing is more painful and powerful than physical pain. Physical torture and physical control instills fear in people allowing for the Party to have total control over the people both physically and psychologically.
Another theme of the book is technology. The book 1984 reinforces the thoughts of people that believe that technology will eventually take over our world and control everything that we do. Telescreens are located all throughout the city as well as in people homes. There are hidden microphones all over the city so that everything is able to be heard by the Party. The technology used allows the Party to keep tabs on its citizens all the time. Technology to us can be a good thing because it allows us to do things more quickly or even eliminate the need for humans to work at all. The novel 1984 also puts the thought in people’s minds that technology can work miracles for the human race, but at the same time technology can destroy us or be used for all of the wrong things.
I believe that psychological manipulation, physical control, and technology are the three main themes of George Orwell’s novel 1984. The themes in the book allow us as readers to picture what life would be like if the world became the way it did in 1984. George Orwell included these themes for a reason, and I believe it is a warning to our society that we can’t allow our world to get that far to the point that us as humans become brainwashed by technology.