"A Jury of Her Peers": Overall Opinion

    In A Jury of Her Peers by Susan Glaspell, reveals the characters of three housewives caged down to hide between their husbands.  First, Mrs. Hale, a seemingly pleasant woman, pays close attention to details and thinks carefully before she speaks.  Although this character is strong, she stays quiet in the mist of her husband.  Next, Mrs. Peters is "small and thin and doesn't have a strong voice"(Glaspell).  Clearly, since she is the wife of the sheriff, Mrs. Peters does not need the speak up with a booming and powerful husband.  Then, Mrs. Wright, once a youthful, cheery choir member, has had all the happiness and joy sucked from her life by Mr. Wright.  I, along with Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters, sympathize with Minnie Wright.  Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters eventually realize the horrible demeaning way the women are being treated.  I admire this pair.  The two hide Minnie guilty tracks and truly see and understand the misery she has endured all the years of her marriage.

"My Mistress' Eyes": Concrete Details

     In My Mistress' Eyes by William Shakespeare, a man describes the odd appearance of his lover.  Shakespeare uses concrete details to give the reader a more clear looks into the rare features of the woman. To start, as I begin the piece, I think the man despises his wife.  In greater detail, in every detail given, the speaker claims his lover does not meet up to the beauty of the object he is describing.  Also, the speaker describes wires and compares them with the woman's hair.  This concrete detail brings to mind the image of a prickly object, which, in no way, is a compliment to this woman.  So, the speaker continues to describe his wife as less than beautiful.  By this point, I have a picture of the world's ugliest woman in my mind.  However, the end of the world reveals a change in the speaker's mood.  The man thinks his lover to be "rare and beglied with a false compare" (Shakespeare).  I find this truly touch, and with this, my opinion of the work is suddenly altered.  Although, the various concrete details given, it appeared the man to be insulting the woman, he is actually telling of her exquisite rareness that holds beauty.

"Barbie Doll": Imagery

    Although Barbie Doll by Marge Piercy is a rather brief piece of literature, the meaning it carries holds tremendous weight.  The author uses imagery to tell the tragic tale of the a young girl.  In the beginning, the girl grows up playing with a Barbie doll.  It is at an early age that the image of this dolls instills into the mind of this small child that women should have unnaturally skinny and artificial features.  Because of this, the girl, though she "was healthy, tested intelligent, possessed strong arm and back", and had everything going for her, grows up with a poor self- esteem (Piercy).  This low self confidence causes the girl to cut off her natural features, and kill herself.  At the funeral, with a new nose and thin legs, the girl is finally viewed by others as beautiful.  It strikes me as incredibly sad that, even after her death caused by the world's harsh scrutiny, the people still cannot looks past her appearance.  The usage of imagery allows the readers to see how the girl actually appears, how she views herself, and how others see her.  I imagine the author's motivation for writing this poems was to show society's obsession with physical appearances, and the brutal effect it has on women.

"Hunters in the Snow": Characterization

     The short story, Hunters in the Snow by Tobias Wolff, tell of men who venture off to an open piece f land to spend the day simply being men doing manly things.  The author uses characterization to describe these men, and later announce that they all do not fit the image of a stereotypical man.  But, firstly, the audience learns that Frank, Kenny, and Tub appear to be fearless and tough as they travel through snow covered roads in a car with a busted window.  The inner personalities begin to become clear when the men eat their lunches.  Kenny dives into "several slices of pizza and a couple of candy bars," while "Frank eats a sandwich, an apple, two carrots, and a square of chocolate" (Wolff).  Then, "Tub eats one hard-boiled egg and a stick of celery" (Wolff).  Clearly, only Kenny fits the image of a big, brute.  The lunches of Franks and especially Tub are rather womanly.  These two men's diets remind me of a character on the movie called Devil Wears Prada.  This lady claims to be on a no food diet.  However, when this woman feels faintly, she eats a cube of cheese.  I see a connection between this character and Tub.  Later, there rare hurt feelings, gossip, and a big fight.  These men, at first, are characterized as the typical group of men, but are found to be how most people envision women.

"Othello": Does Othello Truly Love Desdemona?

      As I finish the horribly tragic tale, Othello by William Shakespeare, I mull over the motif of Othello love. Throughout the beginning of the work, Othello's love for Desdemona seems to be strong and true.  However, when Iago fibs of Desdemona's unfaithfulness, Othello love is put to the test.  Many times does Othello deny this rumor or Desdemona's encounters with Cassio because of their pure, undying love for each other.  It is not until Iago present proof, that Othello undergoes a complete change, and suddenly wishes to kill his beloved.  I believe that it is because Othello loves Desdemona so much that he is hurt to the point where he cannot fully comprehend his wife's adultery.  Even as he is about to murder Desdemona, he commands her to say her prayers because he "...would not kill thy unprepared spirit" (IV.ii.33).  Then, after he takes his beloved's life, Othello is completely beside himself.  Because he loathes himself for not believing Desdemona and eventually kills her, Othello ends up taking his own life.

"Othello": Dramatic Irony

     Woah, Woah! Did Othello really just brutally strangle his beloved Desdemona?  In William Shakespeare's Othello, the mighty Moorish general becomes a slave to his Lieutenant's deception and murders the love of his life, Desdemona.  With the audience being aware of Desdemona's faithfulness, while Othello is not, dramatic irony takes its toll on the story line of the play.  The literary device allows the reader the have complete knowledge of Iago's sneaky manipulations and see the full truths and intentions of the characters.  If this literature did not involve dramatic irony, Cassio would have never been fired, Desdemona would not have been suspected of adultery, and Othello would not have killed his wife.  Basically, there would be no need for Iago, but also, no real story.  With the main characters thinking
"...Iago is most honest", the plot line is unwoven (Shakespeare, II.iii.7).  Because there is dramatic irony, a brilliantly chaotic plot is displayed, making Othello, Othello.

"Othello": Emilia being a Dynamic Character

       I near the end of the classic literature, Othello by William Shakespeare, I now claim a sense of respect and admiration towards  Emilia, the once obedient wife of Iago.  Before learning of her husband's deceitful plans, Emilia, although not exactly appreciated by Iago,  would parade submissively around him, satisfying his  every need.  In greater depth, without much of an explanation, Emilia willingly steals her best friend's handkerchief under the command of her husband.  Little did Emilia know, this simple action would set into motion a plan to kill her dear friend, Desdemona.  Upon hearing of Iago's evil deception of Othello, Emilia wishes "...His pernicious soul rot half a grain a day" (IV.ii.168).  It is at this point that the readers can detect a change in Emilia's character.  Emilia's faithfulness is quickly replaced by a new, fierce hatred.  This dynamic character reveals the truth evil of Iago to Othello.  Hopefully, Othello's new knowledge of Iago will make for a not so tragedy end to the tale.

"Othello": The Pivotal Role of Iago

     Looking back at the past four acts in Othello by William Shakespeare, Iago's numerous lies and manipulations of various characters begin to fall perfectly into place, making his role pivotal in the plot line.  Iago's countless lies have set off a chain reaction.  One vicious untruth leads to the downfall of them all.  Moreover, by Iago indirectly firing Cassio, Desdemona spends more time with Cassio, trying to reclaim his position.  Then, when Iago plant a false send of Desdemona's unfaithfulness in Othello, the couple turns against one another.  Eventually the intensity of Othello's hatred for Desdemona urges the desire to "...Strangle her in bed..." (Shakespeare, IV.i.191).  Clearly, Iago's plotting goes past the point of simply wanting a higher position in the military.  Because Iago suggests the killing of both Desdemona and Othello, I predict that the two will soon both perish.

"Othello": Predictions

     So far, in the first three acts of Othello by William Shakespeare, there has been numerous account of  drama and deceptions thanks to the evil workings of Iago.  Although I personally loathe Iago and his various manipulations of his closest friends, I do admit his clever and persuasive testimony is completely genius and believable.  Well played, indeed, Iago!  As I read on, Othello and Desdemona engage in an argument that will most likely result in the separation of the couple.  Later, Othello asks Desdemona to "fetch (him) the handkerchief" (Shakespeare, III.iii.80).  When Desdemona learns she has lost Othello's precious gift to her, I assume that all the chaos will break loose between the two.  Looking ahead, I predict, since this literature is labeled as a tragedy, that this conflict will not be resolved.

"Othello": Symbolism of the Handkerchief

    In Act III of classic literature, Othello by William Shakespeare, a simple handkerchief is used as a symbol  which I predict will play a vital role in the outcome of the work.  Firstly, this handkerchief was given to Desdemona by Othello as a token of his love.  The gift symbolizes Othello's pure and simple love for his wife.  Because of the meaning behind the handkerchief, Iago, using his manipulative genius, will use the symbol to turn the lovers against one another.  Iago plans to go to Cassio's and "...lose this napkin and let him find it" (Shakespeare, III.iii.131-2)  Because this handkerchief symbolizes Desdemona's love and faithfulness to her husband, Othello will automatically assume she is cheating.  As this gift was actually his own mother's, Othello will be heartbroken over this matter.  I predict Othello will eventually step down from his position in office, letting Iago to take his place.

"Othello": Irony of Iago

    Throughout Act II of Othello by William Shakespeare, the audience gets a taste of Cassio and Iago's differing treatment and opinions of women.  To begin, Cassio's flirty behaviors causes him to appear infinitely more friendly and desirable than the hardhearted Iago. Cassio greets the women he encounters with a kiss.  Also, when Desdemona enters his presence, Cassio demands all the men to kneel before her.  This action instills the notion that Cassio respects and honors women.  Moving on,  Iago is presented as a ma with a poor view of women.  Iago looks at women as sneaky and manipulative.  This view is ironic because Iago is bother sneaky and manipulative.  Later, Desdemona mentions that Iago treats "though praisest the worst best" (Shakespeare, II.i.143).  Overall, Cassio treats women incredibly better than Iago.

"Othello": Characterization of Iago

    In Othello by William Shakespeare, Iago is characterized through his deceptions of Othello, Cassio, and Montano.  Moreover, Iago yearns for a higher office in the military than the one he currently holds.  Instead of improving himself, Iago decides to gain his desired position by deceiving and humiliating those who genuinely respect and rely on his trust.  In even greater depth, Iago tell Montano that Cassio's drinking "Tis evermore the prologue to his sleep" (Shakespeare, I.iii.90).  Because his vice is revealed, Othello fires Cassio from office.  Iago, further illuminating his deceitful methods,  tells Cassio to ask Desdemona for help in restoring Othello's faith in him.  The overall message I took from this situation was that Iago uses his two-faced behavior to accomplish his goal.  Iago is ultimately characterized as a manipulative man seeking personal gain through the deception of others.