Blog p. 832 #9 and p. 833 #7

pg. 832 #9: Hamlet's soliloquy (I.ii.129-159) has very descriptive diction in which he uses words and exclamation points in which to emphasize his meaning and to emphasize how he feels to the audience. For example on lines 133-135; "How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable, seem to me all the uses of this world!" Clearly the audience can find out what he feels at this moment in time. He is very depressed after the death of his father and he is clearly expressing it in his diction by saying there is nothing good in this world and how everything is unprofitable. Also later he describes how his mother actually loved his father, but how she betrayed him by marrying his uncle; "Like Niobe, all tears:-- why she, even she-- O God! A beast, that wants discourse of reason, would have mourn'd longer-- married with my uncle." Hamlet describes his increasing disappointment in his mother's actions and how that is slowly affecting his will power. We can clearly see his disappointment in his diction.

pg. 833 #7: The topic of honesty and deception is the very conflict that has hurt the life of Hamlet in the play, and how these opposing topics are key topics in the play. It is sort of true that honesty is not a common idea that characters in the play follow by because the majority are so accustomed to telling lies and never telling the truth that even the audience does not know exactly what is true and what is false. Deception is a topic that happens way more in the play, because characters may be more comfortable with deceiving than telling the truth. For example, King Claudius is the true figure of deception because he is the King that lies to all of his people and especially to Hamlet and the Queen. It is apparent that King Claudius has murdered Hamlet's father and that King Claudius has hidden this whole idea to keep his kingship in order. Claudius basically lies to all of Denmark by saying that Hamlet's father (the late king) has died of natural causes and that because of this, King Claudius will take over Hamlet's father's kingship and help the country of Denmark. Hamlet is not exactly an honest character either from the fact that he lied and kept secret to many people about his intentions to avenge his father's death. Nobody knows that Hamlet's plan is to kill King Claudius.

Discussion Question #7 and #14

In question number 7, Hamlet tells his companions that he is to put on an "antic disposition" because he wants to act like there is nothing going on and that even though he is actually hiding something, which is the revenge on King Claudius, he wants act like he doesn't know anything about what Claudius did to his father. He wants to act like there is nothing wrong, so other characters in the play will not question him for anything he has done. His behavior is a deliberate strategy because he knows exactly what the ghost told him, and what he has to do to avenge his father. He is scarred by grief and shock but he has a plan and his plan contains killing.
In question number 14, The assumptions that underline Hamlet's response is that Hamlet is truly not himself especially after his father died. He thinks of his own country as a prison and like he has never even liked his country before. He means that since his father died, things around his home have changed and will never be the same again. He feels that he has been betrayed and ditched by all the people that he was close to before his father died. He feels that the country of Denmark will never go back to its original status and he doesn't want to be a part of it anymore. I totally agree with what he says. This second quote reveals that Hamlet is very mad about what has happened and he is definitely not acting about the grief and pain he feels because he has been used over and over again. He is mostly mad because his uncles and his mothers betrayal of him.

Discussion Question #4

Laertes and Polonius object to Ophelia's relationship with Hamlet because they feel that Hamlet's status as the prince of Denmark is overwhelming for the sake of Ophelia and that she will not feel comfortable to have a relationship with a prince who has just lost a father and also is sort of in a depressive mood throughout the play. The argument that seems most persuasive is the argument about Hamlet's late mood after his father died, and how he has been acting very strange at certain times during the play. Their least fair argument is that she cannot handle to be in a relationship with a prince who has a lot of power. Laertes and Polonius's treatment of Ophelia in act I, scene iii, reveals that they were purposefully trying to split up the relationship that Ophelia was having with Hamlet, by separating them for a while, and taking away his letters that were sent to her. This suggests that their attitude toward Ophelia is one of protectiveness but maybe too protective for her sake, and also they think that they can control women's feelings by persuading them to do this or to do that. Class functions in their arguments by saying that since Hamlet is from a higher class that their argument is true that Ophelia can not handle the higher class that she has been put in by having a relationship with Hamlet.

Horatio and Hamlet: Intriguing but Very Different Characters

In Hamlet, Shakespeare personifies Horatio and Hamlet as intriguing and extremely detrimental characters who may be friends of sort, but have unique personalities and speech patterns which influences the reader/audience to view these characters in different lights. Hamlet personifies a unique speech pattern that is in a very tactical and organized manner when alone, but changes when other characters join him in the play, unlike Horatio who's speech patterns are a basic reflection of his thoughts in playwright, that actually reveal himself in his diction. These patterns differentiate the characteristics and personalities of these two characters which reveal that even though Horatio and Hamlet may be good friends, their different personalities allow them to unite. Also, Shakespeare uses different speech patterns in characters to allow the audience to relate and which allows the reader to become even more connected to Hamlet as a play. Shakespeare's utilization of speech patterns in characters such as Hamlet and Horatio, allow the reader to connect and relate to each character, as well as differentiate between character's personalities and actions throughout the play.  

Prufrock's Very Depressive poem, with very good lines

In The Love Song of J. Alfred Pufrock, Prufrock uses the line, "Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons, I have measured out my life with coffee spoons." I think this line is one of the most descriptive lines of this poem because it clearly explains how Prufrock feels about his everyday life and how his life is one that is depressive, and always of a sinister mood. Prufrock is basically explaining that he counts every morning and afternoon that exists during his lifetime and it is like he is counting every single moment with a coffee spoon. Every single spoonful is a moment in his life that he wants to either forget or that has depressed him, and that he is also almost like counting to his death through every spoonful. This sentence clearly fits with the rest of the poem because it adds to the depressive attitude of Prufrock through out the poem and how he feels that he rather be dead than to live in depression.

"Mini-Essay" discussing DW Harding's view of Jane Austen

DW Harding's perception of Jane Austen's sarcasm in the novel "Pride and Prejudice" is extremely biased in one view but may be correctly stated about Jane Austen's sarcasm which is not easily found by every reader that reads Austen's novel. DW Harding's main argument in his short statement about Jane Austen's use of sarcasm, is that the concealed sarcasm is not very expressive in the novel and that Austen uses delicate sarcasm that may not be true sarcasm, and may not be funny at all. Harding describes her use of delicate sarcasm as extremely delicate and not persuasive for readers. He explains that readers who read "Pride and Prejudice," are not accustomed to the sarcasm used in early 19th century England, and will not see the use of sarcasm that she is trying to portray. Also, Harding accuses Austen of not using the right "didactic intention" of a real satirist and that she is merely trying to use sarcasm to cover up her real intention of trying to explain her critical attitudes of different characters in the novel. Harding also criticizes Austen's use of sarcasm through diction between two characters by saying that her aim was trying to express the criticism one character has over another character, but I believe that Austen expresses her use of sarcasm extremely well in the diction between two characters. This is one idea that I do not agree with because Austen's best use of sarcasm is in her diction especially with diction between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. Mr. Bennet's great sarcastic attitude, allows the reader to relate with Mr. Bennet as well as learn more about the characters who use a sarcastic attitude through out the novel.

Coy Mistress Important Line

Marvells use of expressive diction and rhyme through out the poem set a standard which allows the poem to flow extremely

well and also allows the reader to attach himself/herself to the poem. Marvell uses many lines and literary devices in the poem to tell a story and allow the reader to understand and connect, but the two lines I thought were very descriptive are; "The grave's a fine and private place, But none I think do there embrace." Marvell explains this line as somewhat of an ominous foreshadowing that truly affected me when I was reading the poem. This line basically discusses how a grave may be very narrow, tight, private, and comfortable place, but it is a place separated from the rest of the world, and no one reaches out to a grave, it is alone. Also, the use of this sentence in the poem, clearly allowed the poem to flow well, and the sentence fit perfectly into what Marvell is trying to discuss about love, and the dying of love.