I love this movie!!! I have the trilogy at my house and the movies never fail to make me smile.
I think that they started off the movie with Indy as a teenager in order for the audience to understand how his mindset and beliefs have always been the same. Throughout the whole movie, you hear Indy say "that belongs in a museum," and having a scene of him as a teenager puts into prospective that he has had a passion for history for quite some time now. As a teenager, Indy is very passionate, adventurous, and courageous. I love that his character never really changes in this way and that his relationship with his father is clearly stated in that scene where his father is working on his work and pays no attention to Indy and tells him to count to ten in greek.. or latin? I can't remember... but I just love his is transitioned and proved how Indy's search for something is never ending. He will never give up on his quest and that is what drives him throughout the whole movie. He will never give up on the quest to find the grail. His knowledge about history aids him throughout the whole journey and I absolutely love his character!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Small World Parts 4 and 5
I know that I already blogged for part 4 by accident.. but I guess that I'll do it again!
I love the ending of this book. The first thing that came to my mind when the last sentence said, "and he wondered where in the small, narrow world he should begin to look for her" was the tv/computer game, "Where In the World is Carmen San Diego." Persse had traveled all over the globe to be with Angela and she does not turn out to be the woman that he actually wants in the end. He follows her throughout the whole entire book and basically gets no where. Whenever he came close, there was always something stopping him. I thought that it was ironic that he ends up sleeping with Angela's identical twin, Lily and ends up sleeping with him. I just thought that the whole story was very ironic and that the one love that he was searching for actually came from someone else that now, he cannot find. Too bad for Persse.
I love the ending of this book. The first thing that came to my mind when the last sentence said, "and he wondered where in the small, narrow world he should begin to look for her" was the tv/computer game, "Where In the World is Carmen San Diego." Persse had traveled all over the globe to be with Angela and she does not turn out to be the woman that he actually wants in the end. He follows her throughout the whole entire book and basically gets no where. Whenever he came close, there was always something stopping him. I thought that it was ironic that he ends up sleeping with Angela's identical twin, Lily and ends up sleeping with him. I just thought that the whole story was very ironic and that the one love that he was searching for actually came from someone else that now, he cannot find. Too bad for Persse.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Small World Part 3
What do you think about Persse chasing Angela around to all of the world-wide conventions?
I thought that this part of the story was a lot like a knight chasing a woman that he will never have. Although she has told him this, he still insists that he is good enough for her and that he deserves her. He gets a credit card, which is a form of money, something that she has a plentiful amount of. This credit card, like in the story of Perceval, is like his own title as a "knight." Now that he has gained something that she has and is attracted to, he thinks that she will somehow change her opinion about him. I thought that it was funny that she followed him to places such as Hawaii, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Jerusalem and he still did not get any of her attention. I thought that it was sad to read Cheryl's to Persse following Angela around, but Persse is blindly in love with the thought of Angela. I think that it is getting a little out of hand...
I thought that this part of the story was a lot like a knight chasing a woman that he will never have. Although she has told him this, he still insists that he is good enough for her and that he deserves her. He gets a credit card, which is a form of money, something that she has a plentiful amount of. This credit card, like in the story of Perceval, is like his own title as a "knight." Now that he has gained something that she has and is attracted to, he thinks that she will somehow change her opinion about him. I thought that it was funny that she followed him to places such as Hawaii, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Jerusalem and he still did not get any of her attention. I thought that it was sad to read Cheryl's to Persse following Angela around, but Persse is blindly in love with the thought of Angela. I think that it is getting a little out of hand...
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Small World Part 1
First off, I would like to say that the first part of "Small World" reminded me a lot of "Brave New World" and "The Giver." I know that "Brave New World" and "The Giver" all took place in very unique societies, but I felt that they all had a common secret that they were all in on, and that they were all gathered together for. Starting off "Small World," it seemed as though all of these professors and teachers had gathered together for a specific reason beyond their training. They all had very prestigious degrees, and some came back to this "conference" even after they stopped teaching. It just reminded me a lot of these other two books.
4) Angelica is a very centered and interesting character in "Small World." She is the main interest for many of the men at the conference, and seems very out of place. She is younger than a lot of people at the conference and she is very flirtatious. I think that her character is supposed to be more of one for entertainment purposes, the main love interest. She specializes in romantic literature and it seems that if we compared her to a common medieval character, she would be the young maiden that those fawn after. Persse is taken to her because of her looks and supposed popularity at the conference. Originally, he knows nothing about her and only a day or so after meeting and talking to her, he proclaims that he is "in love" which is an overstatement to say the least.
5) I personally loved the characters of Morris Zapp and Philip Swallow. I thought that both characters were very animated and really served as a humerus part in the story. I loved the scene where Persse sees Angelica for the first time and he comments about how Swallow seemed to be looking at her breasts, when really he was looking at her name tag. Both characters seemed to be very engulfed in the image of sex, even as old men. Zapp's lecture, to be precise, was probably my favorite part of the reading. I will speak about that in the next question. But I just thought that Swallow and Zapp were very animated and characters that were meant to be taken seriously, but could be laughed at while reading.
6) This scene was my favorite part of the story. Zapp compared language and reading to strip teasing. While reading it, I actually understood and agreed with what he had to say. It says, "the attempt to peer into the very core of a text, to possess once and for all its meaning, is vain- it is only ourselves that we find there, not the work itself" (27). It talked about how the text tells us what we need to know, but will never say it blatantly and cannot be possessed. It is all like a strip tease. I thought that it really blatantly said what language and reading was like, and I think that a lot of people overreacted when hearing it.
4) Angelica is a very centered and interesting character in "Small World." She is the main interest for many of the men at the conference, and seems very out of place. She is younger than a lot of people at the conference and she is very flirtatious. I think that her character is supposed to be more of one for entertainment purposes, the main love interest. She specializes in romantic literature and it seems that if we compared her to a common medieval character, she would be the young maiden that those fawn after. Persse is taken to her because of her looks and supposed popularity at the conference. Originally, he knows nothing about her and only a day or so after meeting and talking to her, he proclaims that he is "in love" which is an overstatement to say the least.
5) I personally loved the characters of Morris Zapp and Philip Swallow. I thought that both characters were very animated and really served as a humerus part in the story. I loved the scene where Persse sees Angelica for the first time and he comments about how Swallow seemed to be looking at her breasts, when really he was looking at her name tag. Both characters seemed to be very engulfed in the image of sex, even as old men. Zapp's lecture, to be precise, was probably my favorite part of the reading. I will speak about that in the next question. But I just thought that Swallow and Zapp were very animated and characters that were meant to be taken seriously, but could be laughed at while reading.
6) This scene was my favorite part of the story. Zapp compared language and reading to strip teasing. While reading it, I actually understood and agreed with what he had to say. It says, "the attempt to peer into the very core of a text, to possess once and for all its meaning, is vain- it is only ourselves that we find there, not the work itself" (27). It talked about how the text tells us what we need to know, but will never say it blatantly and cannot be possessed. It is all like a strip tease. I thought that it really blatantly said what language and reading was like, and I think that a lot of people overreacted when hearing it.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
The Story of the Grail (Perceval) pgs 460-499
1) When Perceval is on a journey in the deserted area, he encounters three knights and ten maidens. This group reminded me a lot of the beginning of the story when the knight approaches Perceval and asks if he had seen five knights and three maidens. I think that this part in the story represents knighthood and how he is no longer in love with the thought of it. He is criticized for wearing armor on Good Friday. The group represents an image that he once respected, to one that has become a joke to him.
2) We see Perceval beginning to weep as he goes to repent to the Hermit because he is told about his mother's slow and painful death and how the only way that he could be forgiven for leaving her there is repentance. To this, Perceval agrees to take communion every day. He really looks at himself as guilty for his mother's death and takes full responsibility. He does not know how to fix what he did, and really, the whole search for the grail has been more of a self- exploration. It took him a story to realize how he took his mother and her words for granted.
2) We see Perceval beginning to weep as he goes to repent to the Hermit because he is told about his mother's slow and painful death and how the only way that he could be forgiven for leaving her there is repentance. To this, Perceval agrees to take communion every day. He really looks at himself as guilty for his mother's death and takes full responsibility. He does not know how to fix what he did, and really, the whole search for the grail has been more of a self- exploration. It took him a story to realize how he took his mother and her words for granted.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
The Story of the Grail (Perceval) pgs 419-460
1. I think the meaning of Blancheflor's name is actually quite interesting. The meaning, "White Flower" gives off vibes that she is very pure and innocent. The flower that comes to mind when I like of a "white flower," is the lily. Typically, in literature, the lily represents chastity, virtue, the Holy Trinity, faith, and beauty, to make a few. I thought that this description was very interesting and also very contradictory to the episode with Blancheflor. Blancheflor goes into Perceval's bedroom, while he is sleeping, and get into bed with him. She then stays the night with him, which is not innocent at all. Also, her weeping in the story portray her in a dainty way, weeping over a knight. She is what her name describes her as, a dainty flower.
3. In the episode where Perceval sees blood in the snow and it reminds him of Blancheflor, I thought that it related back to him taking her virginity. Having blood remind him of Blancheflor is a little creepy to begin with, and I am pretty sure that if he thought of her when he say it, he is thinking about the taking of her virginity, or her virginity.
3. In the episode where Perceval sees blood in the snow and it reminds him of Blancheflor, I thought that it related back to him taking her virginity. Having blood remind him of Blancheflor is a little creepy to begin with, and I am pretty sure that if he thought of her when he say it, he is thinking about the taking of her virginity, or her virginity.
Monday, November 9, 2009
The Story of the Grail (Perceval) pgs 381-419
1) "He who sows sparingly, reaps sparingly, but he who wishes to reap plentifully casts his seed on ground that will bear him fruit a hundredfold, for good seed withers and dies in worthless soil" (381). The opening prologue to "The Story of the Grail (Perceval)" is much like "Erec and Enide" in its foreshadowing. This prologue teaches many lessons, but the first one that they teach is that the effort that you put in is the outcome that you will receive. Like the first line, if you plant a seed in good soil, it will grow plentifully. But if you throw a seed on the ground in hopes that it will grow, it won't. The prologue then states about the Count Philip of Flanders and how he believes in true justice, loyalty, and the Holy Church. It also quotes the Gospel, "let not your left hand know the good your right hand is doing." Chretien is bringing up a lot of these themes about possibly a higher love where love conquers all, no matter what your brain tells you to do. The prologue states that God knows what our desire is in our hearts and what we really want and that even though the left hand might not approve of it, the right hand has to do what its heart desires. The prologue also speaks about charity and how "he consults no one except his noble honest heart, which urges him to do good" (381). I believe that the prologue wants us to believe the get from the story the belief that love conquers all.
2) I absolutely loved the first scene where Perceval encounters the knights in the Waste Forest. In the text, Chretien portrays Perceval as a very naive child who seems to me to be very ADHD. He is incapable of staying on one topic because he is so starstruck by the knights. The knights are portrayed as very standoffish people who only care about one thing; where the 5 knights and 3 maidens ran off to. Perceval looks at the knights as a being larger than God itself. When he is asked questions about where the knights and maidens ran off to, he focuses more on materialistic things and does not answer their questions. When Perceval finds out their title as knights, he says, "would that I were like you, so shining and so well formed" (383) and asks about the things that he is carrying like swords and shields. Perceval is enthralled and is very materialistic, only caring about the look of the knights. It is very interesting how quickly his perception of the knights changes from when he firsts sees them. At first he is terrified and frightened by them, but then becomes amazed by their shields and swords, making him blinded by the whole thing. Chretien does this to emphasize the naivete of Perceval and how something to eye catching and wonderful, like a sword, or the vision of a knight, can make him so easily persuaded.
3) I thought that it was very interesting that at first when Perceval confronts his mother about meeting the knights and wanting to join, she practically passes out. I wasn't sure if she was upset or happy about his choice. Later on, she was telling Perceval about her lineage of knighthood and how his father was a knight, but he died. I think that Perceval's mother didn't want Perceval to find out about their background in knighthood because she didn't want to loose another one of her loves. She has lost her other sons and husband to knighthood and she didn't want to loose Perceval. To this, Perceval, like another teenage boy, asks for food and dismisses her worries and tells her that he is going anyway. He is very naive and does not understand the consequences in his actions and leaves his mother. His mother also gives him one last advice, and says that if a maiden is in need of help, then he must help her, but if she gives him her ring, he must leave her. to this, Perceval is very confused and asks things such as "what is a chapel," and "what is a church." Perceval is not very knowledgeable and I think that before he left, he should have paid more attention to his mother and found out the different things that could go wrong with leaving and becoming a knight.
2) I absolutely loved the first scene where Perceval encounters the knights in the Waste Forest. In the text, Chretien portrays Perceval as a very naive child who seems to me to be very ADHD. He is incapable of staying on one topic because he is so starstruck by the knights. The knights are portrayed as very standoffish people who only care about one thing; where the 5 knights and 3 maidens ran off to. Perceval looks at the knights as a being larger than God itself. When he is asked questions about where the knights and maidens ran off to, he focuses more on materialistic things and does not answer their questions. When Perceval finds out their title as knights, he says, "would that I were like you, so shining and so well formed" (383) and asks about the things that he is carrying like swords and shields. Perceval is enthralled and is very materialistic, only caring about the look of the knights. It is very interesting how quickly his perception of the knights changes from when he firsts sees them. At first he is terrified and frightened by them, but then becomes amazed by their shields and swords, making him blinded by the whole thing. Chretien does this to emphasize the naivete of Perceval and how something to eye catching and wonderful, like a sword, or the vision of a knight, can make him so easily persuaded.
3) I thought that it was very interesting that at first when Perceval confronts his mother about meeting the knights and wanting to join, she practically passes out. I wasn't sure if she was upset or happy about his choice. Later on, she was telling Perceval about her lineage of knighthood and how his father was a knight, but he died. I think that Perceval's mother didn't want Perceval to find out about their background in knighthood because she didn't want to loose another one of her loves. She has lost her other sons and husband to knighthood and she didn't want to loose Perceval. To this, Perceval, like another teenage boy, asks for food and dismisses her worries and tells her that he is going anyway. He is very naive and does not understand the consequences in his actions and leaves his mother. His mother also gives him one last advice, and says that if a maiden is in need of help, then he must help her, but if she gives him her ring, he must leave her. to this, Perceval is very confused and asks things such as "what is a chapel," and "what is a church." Perceval is not very knowledgeable and I think that before he left, he should have paid more attention to his mother and found out the different things that could go wrong with leaving and becoming a knight.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Buñuel's "That Obscure Object of Desire"
3. As first, I was very confused as to why Bunuel had two actresses playing Conchita. I tried to look deeper into the attitudes and behaviors of each of the Conchitas and see if each of them was one specific trait that Matthieu was interested in, but in each scene, the Conchitas were unpredictable. One moment, they longed for his love and the next moment they were pushing him away. I began to think about the possibility of Conchita having multiple personality disorder, but that was a little far fetched. The two actresses playing Conchita represented the two things that Matthieu desired within them. Although Matthieu wanted to have sex with Conchita, he also wanted her to remain pure and wholesome, the way that she represented herself. He wanted those two things at the same time that were virtually unobtainable. This is the same because like the two Conchitas, you cannot have the two actresses on screen at the same time. The more conservative version of Conchita was the first one that we see in the movie. She is wise and not as free willing as the other Conchita. For instance, when Matthieu tries to have sex with her and she keeps her underwear fastened on, it seems as if she does this because she legitimately is trying to keep herself from having sex with him. On the other hand, the other Conchita is very passionate and tricky to figure out. She seems to be in a lot more scene where she is trying to make a scene. For instance, when she has sex with another man infront of Matthieu, she is very instinctual.
5. I think that Matthieu is the narrator in the film because he is the one that witnesses her bipolar behavior and no one else. He has to inform the audience what he saw through his eyes so that they can interpret it and give him advice. Matthieu has seen all of the sides of Conchita, but every time he experiences one of her extreme behaviors, he does not know how to react. I think that he tells it in the past tense and in flashbacks to add the other's reactions on the train. At first when we first see him pouring the bucket of water on Conchita, we see him as more of an evil character. He has to gain back the respect by telling the back story as to why he did this. I thought that it was very interesting that all of the people in the train car were all connected in some way and I did not know exactly what to think of the psychologist who was a midget. I wasn't quite sure what to think about that...
5. I think that Matthieu is the narrator in the film because he is the one that witnesses her bipolar behavior and no one else. He has to inform the audience what he saw through his eyes so that they can interpret it and give him advice. Matthieu has seen all of the sides of Conchita, but every time he experiences one of her extreme behaviors, he does not know how to react. I think that he tells it in the past tense and in flashbacks to add the other's reactions on the train. At first when we first see him pouring the bucket of water on Conchita, we see him as more of an evil character. He has to gain back the respect by telling the back story as to why he did this. I thought that it was very interesting that all of the people in the train car were all connected in some way and I did not know exactly what to think of the psychologist who was a midget. I wasn't quite sure what to think about that...
Monday, November 2, 2009
Celestina Acts 18-21
1. Melibea and Calisto both meet usually in the dead of night and in the darkness. This says a lot about the nature of their desire for one another and the things that they truly want from each other. The nighttime is a time where things out of the ordinary happen. The fact that Melibea and Calisto meet during the night proposes that their love is not true. They only desire the idea of each other, and the dark of the night does not make them look at each other's faces to realize that. They love the thought of being in love, and they also get together to have sex. This is an obvious reason for them always meeting at night. Their love lies in lust and in their false belief in love.
2. I do not believe that Melibea and Calisto were actually ever in love. I think that in "Celestina," the word love it thrown around a lot, and used falsely. No character ever loved truly; they lust one another. I believe that all of the characters do not know what love really is and in order to just name how they feel about the person, they call it love. I think that Melibea does committ suicide because of the death of her "lover," but I think that she does realize that her love was not true. I think that she knows that she did not love him, but lusted him, for which she feels guilty and commits suicide. Love is fake in "Celestina." Every character falls in love with the image of their partner and does not end up finding true love within them.
6. Melibea is fighting between the matriarchal and the patriarchal society throughout the whole story. She was constantly trying to maintain her position as an innocent virgin woman, but could not fight off Calisto as her lover. This says that society is not very accepting of different standards and ways in which women have the right to live their lives. Melibea was not allowed to live in the world that she wanted because she was constantly fighting the double standard in society.
2. I do not believe that Melibea and Calisto were actually ever in love. I think that in "Celestina," the word love it thrown around a lot, and used falsely. No character ever loved truly; they lust one another. I believe that all of the characters do not know what love really is and in order to just name how they feel about the person, they call it love. I think that Melibea does committ suicide because of the death of her "lover," but I think that she does realize that her love was not true. I think that she knows that she did not love him, but lusted him, for which she feels guilty and commits suicide. Love is fake in "Celestina." Every character falls in love with the image of their partner and does not end up finding true love within them.
6. Melibea is fighting between the matriarchal and the patriarchal society throughout the whole story. She was constantly trying to maintain her position as an innocent virgin woman, but could not fight off Calisto as her lover. This says that society is not very accepting of different standards and ways in which women have the right to live their lives. Melibea was not allowed to live in the world that she wanted because she was constantly fighting the double standard in society.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Celestina Act 12-17
MELIBEA: "No animal is so tame that it doesn't turn fierce when its young are threatened. What would they have done if they'd known I had gone out?"
I thought that this quote by Melibea was very interesting. It is a little bit of the teenage angst and need to rebel against her family. In this short passage, she has to pretend that she is Lucrecia in order to hide from her parents and sleeping with Calisto. I thought that this was a very interesting and "teen-like" quote where she is rebelling against her parents and wonders what they would do if they knew what she was really up to. It is a common case of a teen rebelling against their parents and wondering what the consequences would be if they actually found out what they were doing behind their backs. This quote portrays Melibea in a very interesting and juvenile light where she is tricking her parents to sleep with Calisto. It tells a lot of about her naive character and what she would do in order to have sex with her "true love."
1. In Calisto's soliloquy in Act XIV reflects his happiness of having sex with Melibea. Although he may be ashamed of how happy he is that he had sex with Melibea, he does not scold himself for it. His desire if completely in lust and not in love, but I believe that he understands that. He is disillusioned by the sex that he wants from Melibea.
I thought that this quote by Melibea was very interesting. It is a little bit of the teenage angst and need to rebel against her family. In this short passage, she has to pretend that she is Lucrecia in order to hide from her parents and sleeping with Calisto. I thought that this was a very interesting and "teen-like" quote where she is rebelling against her parents and wonders what they would do if they knew what she was really up to. It is a common case of a teen rebelling against their parents and wondering what the consequences would be if they actually found out what they were doing behind their backs. This quote portrays Melibea in a very interesting and juvenile light where she is tricking her parents to sleep with Calisto. It tells a lot of about her naive character and what she would do in order to have sex with her "true love."
1. In Calisto's soliloquy in Act XIV reflects his happiness of having sex with Melibea. Although he may be ashamed of how happy he is that he had sex with Melibea, he does not scold himself for it. His desire if completely in lust and not in love, but I believe that he understands that. He is disillusioned by the sex that he wants from Melibea.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Celestina Acts 7-11
1. Act VII caught me a little off guard with Celestina. I never really believed that she was really up to no good until this act- specifically when she was with Areusa. Like we talked about before, Celestina is actually molesting her when Areusa says "it's higher up, over the stomach" (pg 86). From there, Celestina basically makes her sleep with Parmeno when really, Areusa already has a lover. Areusa doesn't want to do this because she does not believe that two lovers is acceptable, but Celestina makes her. I thought that this scene was a little scary because Celestina was basically forcing rape upon them. Celestina is only out for her own good. She tries to give people what they want, but she ultimately ends up forcing it upon then and going about it the totally wrong way. In Act 7 Scene 3, Celestina basically makes a "house visit" for sex to Elicia. Reading the text, Elicia obviously does not want Celestina there, but Celestina forces her way in. All of this says that Celestina is very selfish and greedy, and all of her motives are out of sexual desires.
2. I found Areusa and Elicia's comments about Melibea to be derived mainly out of jealousy. They fight with their lovers about how is more beautiful, them or Melibea, and I think that it is all out of spite for who Melibea is and her social status. They are both very jealous that their lovers believe that Melibea is beautiful and I think that this is what sways them to make such comments about her. I thought that it was interesting that all of this kind of talk was going on in Celestina's house. Celestina, as a person, is very sneaky and secretive. She knows everything about everyone else, and gossips a lot. I think that because the lovers were in Celestina's house, they became more open and comfortable enough to talk about others.
2. I found Areusa and Elicia's comments about Melibea to be derived mainly out of jealousy. They fight with their lovers about how is more beautiful, them or Melibea, and I think that it is all out of spite for who Melibea is and her social status. They are both very jealous that their lovers believe that Melibea is beautiful and I think that this is what sways them to make such comments about her. I thought that it was interesting that all of this kind of talk was going on in Celestina's house. Celestina, as a person, is very sneaky and secretive. She knows everything about everyone else, and gossips a lot. I think that because the lovers were in Celestina's house, they became more open and comfortable enough to talk about others.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Celestina Acts 3-6
At the end of Act 6, I found Calisto to be very interesting and very easily swayed by Celestina. Calisto, who is in love with Melibea, gives some of his clothes and riches to Celestina in return for the girdle that Melibea wears. Celestina tricks Calisto into thinking that this garment is actually hers when really Melibea does not care for Calisto. Calisto is easily convinced by Celestina's gifts and is love sick because of them. When Calisto cannot stop looking and touching the piece of garment that Celestina has given him, Celestina says that "melibea sent [him] her girdle out of charity, to cure [his] toothache, not to cure [his] love-sickness. There is something very interesting why Calisto wants a piece of Melibea's clothing and not something else from her. Something as sexual as a girdle suggests what kind of love Calisto really has for Melibea. Calisto lusts Malibea more than actually loves her, just as a lot of the other stories that we read in the Decameron. There is no want for a relationship, but for sex and lust. He wants Melibea in bed. Calisto also speaks about the dreams that he has of her at night about having sex with her and touching her, which causes us to believe that his desire for her is out of sex and not love.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Celestina Acts 1-2
1. The first scene in "Celestina" where Calisto is in Melibea's garden relates a lot to religion. Calisto talks a lot about how he deserves a reward for the services and sacrifices that he has performed and that God should grant him a place in heaven as a saint. I thought that this was interesting considering he never really goes into any of the sacrifices or services that he has performed, and ironically, he is in a garden. A garden, in literature, almost always refers to the Garden of Eden and the "chosen ones," Adam and Eve. In this scene, Calisto believes that he is of the chosen ones and he deserves to live the life that Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden, at least until they ate the fruit from the tree. Melibea reacts and gets upset with Calisto for saying such things and that he does not deserve such a life. I think that she scolds him for this because he is in a garden, which is symbolically crucial. I am not sure if Melibea actually means everything that she says- I think that she is more concerned that Calisto is being so pompous while in the presence of God.
3. I found the character of Celestina to be very motherly and kind of reminded me of, not to stereotype, but an Italian mother. She is quick to forgive Sempronio for being gone for so long without any word from him and sit him down and talk with him. She attempts to cover up Elicia's lover, or client, who is upstairs to ensure that Sempronio is happy when he walks in the door. She somewhat neglects Elicia because she has missed Sempronio, which I think is very stereotypical, for a mother to care so much for her son. [Not that she doesn't care for her daughter, but a son's relationship with his mother is much different from one with her daughter.] Celestina is also very upset when Parmeno is harsh to her, because she raised him when his mother left him. She is very motherly and is upset with his accusations. She quickly forgives and tells him that she loves him although he is not worthy of her love. Celestina is a very interesting character in her mood- but that is what makes her character so complex.
3. I found the character of Celestina to be very motherly and kind of reminded me of, not to stereotype, but an Italian mother. She is quick to forgive Sempronio for being gone for so long without any word from him and sit him down and talk with him. She attempts to cover up Elicia's lover, or client, who is upstairs to ensure that Sempronio is happy when he walks in the door. She somewhat neglects Elicia because she has missed Sempronio, which I think is very stereotypical, for a mother to care so much for her son. [Not that she doesn't care for her daughter, but a son's relationship with his mother is much different from one with her daughter.] Celestina is also very upset when Parmeno is harsh to her, because she raised him when his mother left him. She is very motherly and is upset with his accusations. She quickly forgives and tells him that she loves him although he is not worthy of her love. Celestina is a very interesting character in her mood- but that is what makes her character so complex.
Monday, October 19, 2009
The Decameron [7.3, 7.4, 8.3, 8.7, 8.8]
7.3 Question: What do you think about Brother Rinaldo and his longing for his godchild's mother? What does this say about religion and the expectations that men had for women?
I think that Brother Rinaldo pining over his godchild's mother is very common for a man in this time. It is interesting, considering he is a friar, to be longing after not only a woman, but a woman who is married with a child. He stops at nothing to lie with her and eventually does get her in bed. Like a lot of the other stories in "The Decameron," there are friars, monks, and nuns, all sleeping with each other which is a definite corruption of the church and everything that they believe in. Friars pining after women was very bad in the church's eyes, but they continued to do it. I also think that it is interesting what this story says about the expectations that men had for women in those times. Men believed that women should be willing and open to sleep with a man if he wished to. Men believed that there was no consent in sexual relations between them and any lady that they wished. It was a "sleep with me, or die" kind of look that men had on the situation.
7.4 Question: Why do you think that there is such a wide theme of women fooling men? What is it about femininity that makes Boccaccio right about women being so deceiving?
I think that there are so many stories about women fooling men because they believe that women should have the same pleasures of men. Although it is not widely accepted, and is still not fully accepted today, in the medieval times, women were used only for an object of attraction. They were highlighted in stories for their leniency with sex and these tales of women tricking men are a way to get back at the stereotype. Boccaccio creates femininity as being so deceiving because they are the weaker sex in his eyes and possibly wants to create them and make them seem more evil that they really are. He is warning the reader of the temptations that women put men through and how sometimes, women's power over men can be painful and very deceiving.
I think that Brother Rinaldo pining over his godchild's mother is very common for a man in this time. It is interesting, considering he is a friar, to be longing after not only a woman, but a woman who is married with a child. He stops at nothing to lie with her and eventually does get her in bed. Like a lot of the other stories in "The Decameron," there are friars, monks, and nuns, all sleeping with each other which is a definite corruption of the church and everything that they believe in. Friars pining after women was very bad in the church's eyes, but they continued to do it. I also think that it is interesting what this story says about the expectations that men had for women in those times. Men believed that women should be willing and open to sleep with a man if he wished to. Men believed that there was no consent in sexual relations between them and any lady that they wished. It was a "sleep with me, or die" kind of look that men had on the situation.
7.4 Question: Why do you think that there is such a wide theme of women fooling men? What is it about femininity that makes Boccaccio right about women being so deceiving?
I think that there are so many stories about women fooling men because they believe that women should have the same pleasures of men. Although it is not widely accepted, and is still not fully accepted today, in the medieval times, women were used only for an object of attraction. They were highlighted in stories for their leniency with sex and these tales of women tricking men are a way to get back at the stereotype. Boccaccio creates femininity as being so deceiving because they are the weaker sex in his eyes and possibly wants to create them and make them seem more evil that they really are. He is warning the reader of the temptations that women put men through and how sometimes, women's power over men can be painful and very deceiving.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
The Decameron [5.8, 5.9, 5.10, 6.7, 6,10]
5.8 Question: What do you think about Nastagio's plan to trick the maiden into marrying him? Do you think that this is right? What do you think of the story that the knight told Nastagio?
I thought that Nastagio's plan in tricking the maiden into marrying him was very sneaky and sad. When the knight was telling Nastagio of the heartbreak that he had gone through with the maiden and how they were condemned to do this for the rest of their lives, I knew that Nastagio began thinking about how this story could be of use to him in his personal life. I think that it was very sinister and upsetting that he would trick the woman that he was in love with into believing that if she would not take him for his wife then after death, she would be condemned to the same fate. I think that it was unfair of him to do this to the maiden. I think that the story that the knight told Nastagio was very interesting in that the maiden was being torn to pieces every day for being unfaithful to the knight. I think that this is very interesting because a lot of the stories in "The Decameron" deal with women fooling their men. Many times in these stories, the women have the upper hand.
5.10 Question: What do you think this story states about gender and how women were perceived in society?
I loved this story because of the opinions that the speaker gave in the beginning and the end of story. I thought that it was funny how the speaker, Dioneo, was very raunchy in explaining what she thought. She says, "a woman can wear out a number of men, while a number of men cannot wear out one woman" (434). I think that this is a very loose representation of femininity during those times. I feel as though Dioneo focuses mainly on the uses of women for sex and not for their use in society. She refers to their only talent is sex and giving birth.
I thought that Nastagio's plan in tricking the maiden into marrying him was very sneaky and sad. When the knight was telling Nastagio of the heartbreak that he had gone through with the maiden and how they were condemned to do this for the rest of their lives, I knew that Nastagio began thinking about how this story could be of use to him in his personal life. I think that it was very sinister and upsetting that he would trick the woman that he was in love with into believing that if she would not take him for his wife then after death, she would be condemned to the same fate. I think that it was unfair of him to do this to the maiden. I think that the story that the knight told Nastagio was very interesting in that the maiden was being torn to pieces every day for being unfaithful to the knight. I think that this is very interesting because a lot of the stories in "The Decameron" deal with women fooling their men. Many times in these stories, the women have the upper hand.
5.10 Question: What do you think this story states about gender and how women were perceived in society?
I loved this story because of the opinions that the speaker gave in the beginning and the end of story. I thought that it was funny how the speaker, Dioneo, was very raunchy in explaining what she thought. She says, "a woman can wear out a number of men, while a number of men cannot wear out one woman" (434). I think that this is a very loose representation of femininity during those times. I feel as though Dioneo focuses mainly on the uses of women for sex and not for their use in society. She refers to their only talent is sex and giving birth.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
The Decameron [3.3, 3.6, 3.9, 4.3, 4.9]
3. I found this story to be one of my favorites from "The Decameron." I liked how it wasn't the male, but the female who was the brains of the operation. At first, Beltramo wants nothing to do with Giletta and basically tells her that he will come back when the impossible happens. Giletta finds a way around this and tricks Beltramo and ultimately gets him back in the end. I think that Beltramo's new love to Giletta is very false by the end of the story. It is all about lust and luck. It is not true love and that is how a lot of the relationships in "The Decameron" are.
4. This story reminds me a lot of the story where the woman slept with 9 men. Each of them died by the next lover killing them. It was an ongoing process that never ended. I feel as though this story is a lot like that. Personally, I think that this story was a confusing web of mixed up lovers who are unaware of what they truly want, so they resort to killing. I never think that killing is a justified reason for anything. I believe that this story is morally wrong, considering the third sister had nothing to do with the killings and her and her lover were blamed.
4. This story reminds me a lot of the story where the woman slept with 9 men. Each of them died by the next lover killing them. It was an ongoing process that never ended. I feel as though this story is a lot like that. Personally, I think that this story was a confusing web of mixed up lovers who are unaware of what they truly want, so they resort to killing. I never think that killing is a justified reason for anything. I believe that this story is morally wrong, considering the third sister had nothing to do with the killings and her and her lover were blamed.
Monday, October 12, 2009
The Decameron [2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.9, 3.1]
3. I thought that this story was very interesting. The trickery and deceit that the lady goes through to end up where she is at the end of the book is quite funny. This story is definitely a mockery of femininity and I am surprised that such a story would be told to a court of royalty. It proposes that women are as permiscuous as men in the medieval times and that it is common for a woman to sleep with many men [just as long as she doesn't tell anyone]. I feel as though the gender roles are completely switched here. Usually you see the men more sexually open and more easily convinced than women, but in this story, the lady gets upset when she realizes that he love at the time is gone and cries, then quickly gets over it and moves on to the next man. I think that the theme of lust is very important in this story and it is what drives the men. Each man wants to prove that they are better lovers than the man before, so they fight [even if it causes a death] to get the lady, all out of lust. Overall, the story is making a commentary on what would happen if women acted a little more like men in the medieval times. We also have to ask, was it really like this? Were the women pretending to be virgins when they married, or is this a story based on false pretenses?
5. I think that the first story of the third day is very interesting. It is almost opposite as the seventh story of the second day. One story involves a mute woman who is unknowingly whoring herself, while the other involves a mute man who is also unknowingly whoring himself. Both characters are very sought after people by the opposite sex. While the mute woman does not say anything because she does not know the language of the other men, the mute man does not speak because he was physically mute because of a disease he got. Both say that the opposite sex has a way of having a power or force over the other. The nuns are very surprising in this story because they are all very eager to sleep with the mute man. They unknowingly all end up sleeping with him which causes the question, why would the nuns sleep with him in the first place?
Both stories of mute people bring up the question of who is really in power in the situation. I also think that it's funny that these stories are being told to the court who are supposed to obey the church. These stories are obviously making fun of the church and creating a mockery. What does this say for the rest of society?
5. I think that the first story of the third day is very interesting. It is almost opposite as the seventh story of the second day. One story involves a mute woman who is unknowingly whoring herself, while the other involves a mute man who is also unknowingly whoring himself. Both characters are very sought after people by the opposite sex. While the mute woman does not say anything because she does not know the language of the other men, the mute man does not speak because he was physically mute because of a disease he got. Both say that the opposite sex has a way of having a power or force over the other. The nuns are very surprising in this story because they are all very eager to sleep with the mute man. They unknowingly all end up sleeping with him which causes the question, why would the nuns sleep with him in the first place?
Both stories of mute people bring up the question of who is really in power in the situation. I also think that it's funny that these stories are being told to the court who are supposed to obey the church. These stories are obviously making fun of the church and creating a mockery. What does this say for the rest of society?
Monday, October 5, 2009
The Decameron [1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.3]
1) "He fixed Ser Ciappelletto so firmly in the minds and the devotions of all those who were present there that after the service was over, everyone pressed forward to kiss the hands and feet of the decease, and all his garments were torn off his corpse, since anyone who could get hold of a piece of them considered himself blessed."
This quote came from the first story of the first day of "The Decameron." I absolutely loved this story because I thought that it was so interesting how easily Ser Ciappelletto was able to get through the friar by lying. He had been known as one of the worst men ever known between his gambling and wickedness throughout the land and once he goes for confession, everything changes. He is a liar throughout the whole story, telling the friar that he has confessed every day, when really he has never even been to confession. This whole story is about trickery and the difference between genuine and fake statements.
2) "And let me say the same thing to you, my lord, concerning the three Laws given to three peoples by God our Father which are the subject of the question you put to me: each believes itself to be the true heir, to possess the true Law, and to follow the true commandments, but whoever is right, just as in the case of the rings, is still undecided."
This quote came from the third story of the first day. I thought that it was very clever the way that the Jewish man answered Saladin's question with a story. I love this quote because both the Jew and Saladin know that he did not answer the question the way that Saladin wanted him to, and to make a point as to the Jew's indifference on the subject, he says this quote. Like any other controversial issue, no one is completely right in what they say. There is no right and wrong between these three religions and there is no politically correct answer.
3) "The young girl, who was by no means as hard as iron or diamond, most willingly agreed to the Abbot's wishes. He took her in his arms and kissed her many times, then lay down on the mink's bed. And perhaps out of concern for the heavy weight of his dignified person and the tender age of the young girl he did not lie on top of her but rather placed her on top of him, and there he amused himself with her for quite a while."
This quote came from the fourth story on the first day. I thought that it was very interesting how quickly this monk's intentions changed from wanting to out the other monk for sleeping with the young girl, to actually deciding to sleep with her. I found it very interesting that in the passage, he says that the young girl was permitted to be on top during sex. It is a little bit of female empowerment, or control over the monk. This is significant because usually men are more dominant in these roles and I thought that it might've been a connection to his betrayal of his religion. Just like he is going against his religion, he is going against the common expectations of society.
This quote came from the first story of the first day of "The Decameron." I absolutely loved this story because I thought that it was so interesting how easily Ser Ciappelletto was able to get through the friar by lying. He had been known as one of the worst men ever known between his gambling and wickedness throughout the land and once he goes for confession, everything changes. He is a liar throughout the whole story, telling the friar that he has confessed every day, when really he has never even been to confession. This whole story is about trickery and the difference between genuine and fake statements.
2) "And let me say the same thing to you, my lord, concerning the three Laws given to three peoples by God our Father which are the subject of the question you put to me: each believes itself to be the true heir, to possess the true Law, and to follow the true commandments, but whoever is right, just as in the case of the rings, is still undecided."
This quote came from the third story of the first day. I thought that it was very clever the way that the Jewish man answered Saladin's question with a story. I love this quote because both the Jew and Saladin know that he did not answer the question the way that Saladin wanted him to, and to make a point as to the Jew's indifference on the subject, he says this quote. Like any other controversial issue, no one is completely right in what they say. There is no right and wrong between these three religions and there is no politically correct answer.
3) "The young girl, who was by no means as hard as iron or diamond, most willingly agreed to the Abbot's wishes. He took her in his arms and kissed her many times, then lay down on the mink's bed. And perhaps out of concern for the heavy weight of his dignified person and the tender age of the young girl he did not lie on top of her but rather placed her on top of him, and there he amused himself with her for quite a while."
This quote came from the fourth story on the first day. I thought that it was very interesting how quickly this monk's intentions changed from wanting to out the other monk for sleeping with the young girl, to actually deciding to sleep with her. I found it very interesting that in the passage, he says that the young girl was permitted to be on top during sex. It is a little bit of female empowerment, or control over the monk. This is significant because usually men are more dominant in these roles and I thought that it might've been a connection to his betrayal of his religion. Just like he is going against his religion, he is going against the common expectations of society.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Tristan and Isolde: The Movie
1. The beginning of the movie begins with a battle scene to help set the background problems between both countries. Although the beginning of the book starts off with Tristan killing Morholt, the movie had to ease into the situation. It is harder to accept things in a movie when they are happening to quickly. You cannot fully understand everything that is going on within the story until there is a plot line. Beginning the story with the information that Britain and Ireland have always been fighting, you look at the story from a different angle. Tristan and Isolde are almost more like Romeo and Juliet in that they are from families and countries that hate one another. Throughout the whole movie, there is always a rivalry between Ireland and Britain, which makes their love even more scandalous.
2. I actually like that the movie does not have the love potion in it. It is more realistic and actually serves the story as an actual love story. Tristan and Isolde fall in love and unknowingly put themselves in a situation where Isolde must be given to King Mark. It is is a more sentimental view of their love and not one where Tristan and Isolde are constantly blaming one another or the love potion for their mishap. I personally, am able to sympathize more with Tristan and Isolde more in the movie than the book, mainly because they are truly in love, not forced into love by the love potion.
I personally really liked this movie. It might have been because I had seen it many times before actually reading the book, but I thought that it was a good interpretation on it. Although many things in the movie were switched around from the book, I felt that the love story of Tristan and Isolde will be a story that I never forget, thanks to the movie. I know that that may sound corny, or stupid, considering many people did not care for the movie, but I actually was able to cope with Tristan and Isolde's love because it was real, not a fake like the love potion made it.
2. I actually like that the movie does not have the love potion in it. It is more realistic and actually serves the story as an actual love story. Tristan and Isolde fall in love and unknowingly put themselves in a situation where Isolde must be given to King Mark. It is is a more sentimental view of their love and not one where Tristan and Isolde are constantly blaming one another or the love potion for their mishap. I personally, am able to sympathize more with Tristan and Isolde more in the movie than the book, mainly because they are truly in love, not forced into love by the love potion.
I personally really liked this movie. It might have been because I had seen it many times before actually reading the book, but I thought that it was a good interpretation on it. Although many things in the movie were switched around from the book, I felt that the love story of Tristan and Isolde will be a story that I never forget, thanks to the movie. I know that that may sound corny, or stupid, considering many people did not care for the movie, but I actually was able to cope with Tristan and Isolde's love because it was real, not a fake like the love potion made it.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
"The Knight with the Lion (Yvain)" pgs 354-380
1. Yvain begins to refer to himself at "the knight with the lion" when asked what his name is. Yvain does this because he wants to start a new reputation for himself. He does not want people to think of him as a knight who has failed in the past. Yvain wants to be known for the things that he has done, not the baggage that comes with his name. Yvain's new identity parallels that of someone moving to a new district for school and starting over. No one knows who they are or were in their past town, and creating a new identity keeps those from being rejected or scorned for who they once were.
3. I think that Yvain and Laudine meeting at the end of the story is very interesting. Yvain professes to her his regret for not remembering to come back in time, and the love that he has for Laudine. Laudine basically says that she'll take him back so she is not accused of perjury. I found it quite funny, because Laudine does not take him back because of her love for him, but to escape being accused of something. It is not a very fair reconciliation for Yvain, mainly because he loves her and she is just thinking about herself.
3. I think that Yvain and Laudine meeting at the end of the story is very interesting. Yvain professes to her his regret for not remembering to come back in time, and the love that he has for Laudine. Laudine basically says that she'll take him back so she is not accused of perjury. I found it quite funny, because Laudine does not take him back because of her love for him, but to escape being accused of something. It is not a very fair reconciliation for Yvain, mainly because he loves her and she is just thinking about herself.
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