Great Expectations Question

In chapter 29, when Pip returns to Miss Havisham's house to visit Estella, I had a few questions concaerning Miss Havisham. Throughout the entire book up to this point, I always thought that Miss Havisham was out break Pip's heart through Estella. That is, until I read this passage: "Hear me, Pip! I adopted her to be loved. I bred her and educated her to be loved. I developed her into what she is, that she might be loved. Love her!" (240) After reading this passage, I was a little suspicious. Is Miss Havisham setting Pip up for even more heartbreak, or is she finally excepting him and approving him for Estella? Ive always thought of Miss Havisham as a crazy old women who only cares about making others as miserable as she is, never as the women who wants to see a happy ending for the couple she and her finace never were. Whats up with Miss Havisham?

Great Expectations

I chose this image to represent the this weeks reading in Great Expectations because Pip is always dreaming of bigger things. In this picture, the sad caterpillar is dreaming about becoming a butterfly. This relates to Pip because he is tired of the life as who he is, and wants to flourish into something better and more glamorous.

Great Expectations

The very last line in Chapter 9 of Great Expectations really shows Pip's understanding and sophistication as he enters a new stage in his life. During this passage, Pip realizes the hard-working poor life he has been living and raisied in is entirely different from the life with Estella and Miss Havisham that he has newly grown accostumed to. The moral of the sentance that I got through Pip's words was that every little part of your life effects who you become in the long run. Through his encounters and time spent with Miss Havisham and Estella, his life was effected like it never had been before. Because of this piece of his life, the person he is and wants to be will change.
When I try to think of a time that I've been going through the same thing as Pip, my mind draws a blank. One thing I can think of, though, is how different (in a bad way) I would be if I wasn't a member of my church. I definately wouldn't be as nice of a person if I didnt have the guidence that I have today. By doing a small thing like attending church, my entire life will be different in the long run. Like Pip, by trying new things, you can expand your boundaries and become the person that you really want to be, not following others (Joe) in an 'ordinary' and 'common' lifestyle.

Group Essay

Hey Anna and Alex,

My piece of the group essay is pretty much done, Ive just got some pieces that I need to work on.
My opening sentence is: "Cecily Cardew and Algernon Moncrieff's childish love is by far the most immature relationship in Oscar Wildes' play." I suppose this sentence works because our thesis is all about the exagerated styles of Oscar Wildes' character's relationships.

The transition ties the opening sentence to my first CD. My transition says something like "The foolish romance between the two lovers evolves around an assumption concerning Algernon's identity." My concrete detail introduces the concept of the Ernest misunderstanding. My commentaries explain the whole thing; the diary, the letters, Algernons bunburying, etc.

My next transition introduces the ideas of Algernons and Cecily's love. My CD in this part is how basically Cecily wants to be loved, and Algernon wants to love someone, making them an odd but compatible pair. My CMs in this part of the paragraph include two quotes (one describing each persons views on love).

The third part of the paragraph is the part that I have DEFINATELY had the most trouble with... I'm really not sure what to do still. If you guys have any ideas it would be great. Right now I'm deciding between bringing in the whole concept of how their relationship is exagerated and unlogical compared to the "normal" relatinships of the Victorian Era, and talking about another trait that makes them childish (like Anna suggested the other day). For example, the impatience of Cecily and how she could hardly wait for someone for 5 minutes, let alone until she was 35.

The conclusion sentance is pretty important and also a bit challenging because I have to introduce our conclusion, which we really haven't even started working on yet. And, also because I'm not sure how I'm going to end my paragraph yet. I'll be be sure to make it ties into both the thesis and the concluding part of my paragraph.

Thanks so much for your help, guys :). Have a great Mid-Winter Break!

The Importance of Being Earnest/Victorian Era Research

Doing research on the Victorian Era before beginning the play The Importance of Being Earnest truly gave me a much higher knowledge of the characters and their lifestyles. Social standings were extremenly importnat back in the 1800s. Higher class aristocrats like Algernon Moncrieff had the ability to be completely in command because they have money and good family backgrounds. If a person didn't have an refined family background, it would change the way they were viewed. Jack Worthing is an absolutly perfect example of this situatin. Jack is a higher class man; lots of money, sensible friends, and a beautiful mansion in the country. When he and his lover, Gwendolen, announce to Lady Bracknell that they are engaged to be married, she finds out the truth about Jack's true place on the social ladder. On page 27 Lady Bracknell voices her true opinion: "You can hardly imagine that I and Lord Bracknell would dream of allowing our only daughter - a girl brought up with the utmost care - to marry into a cloak room, and form an alliance with a parcel? Good Morning, Mr Worthing!"

Lady Bracknell, like most Victorians, had very high expectations. Marrige back then was a buisness - a way to get more money and pass off their daughters to someone else. Love was hardly ever the case of marrige, making Jack and Gwendolen's relationship odd. Algernon has the same views as Lady Bracknell when it comes to relationships. When Jack pays a suprise visit to Algernons manor, Jack says hes in town for pleasure. On page 9, when Algernon learns he plans on proposing to Gwendolen, he comments on the matter: "I thought you had some up for pleasure? ... I call that buisness." Jack, being a hopeless romantic, snaps back: "How utterly unromantic you are!" Romance was definately not related at all to marrige - which was perfectly normal. Women back then dreamed of marrying a rich, sophisticated man in with a high social class, which would help them advance on their own social lives. Jack's ward, Cecily Cardew, fulfills this dream when she meets Algernon Moncrieff. Cecily is a country girl - living a normally boring life. Watering flowers, writing in her diary, and her forced learning of German grammer is her lifestyle. Every. Day. When she meets Algernon, although there is conflict about his name, she immediately loves him. She creates the happily ever after that every Victorian gil dreamed of; marrying a rich and attractive aristocrat. By doing research on the Victorian Era before beginning The Importance of Being Earnest, I was able to gain a more thourouh knowledge of love, marrige, and the social class conflicts that separate the two.

Resolution

As the end of 2009 drew nearer, I began considering various things to change in the new year. The opportunity to make a New Years Resolution only comes around once a year, and I'm determined to stick to my plan throughout the entire year, something that I have never quite acomplished in the past. After much thought, I've decided that my resolution for 2010 is use my money more wisely. I am a huge spender, and if i see something I like, I just have to have it. If I don't buy it, it's all I can think about for the next couple of days. By using my money more wisely and saving, I will have a more stable future.

In addition to my spending self control, I'm also going to open up a bank account. Having wads of money stashed in my room isn't safe (especially around my family members) and isn't gaining any interest either. I have also printed out a plan using percentages. 20% of my income is for spending, 15% is going towards my car fund, 30% is for college, and 35% is saved for the future. By following this plan, I will be able to know where my money is going, and be able to work harder knowing it's going towards important things. Now, my babysitting money will be put to good use, instead of just sitting around. If I am able to stick to this plan, I know that my money will start adding up quickly, and I will have a more sure outlook in the future.

Animal Farm - Poem

There once was a farm like no other.
"Animal Farm" was the name.
This farm was run just by animals,
Though it functioned just the same.

On this farm, all were equal.
The pigs, the hens, the cows...
And everyone worked in harmony
Through songs, commandments, and vows.

But soon the work grew harder
And food was running low.
The animals knew that they needed a leader -
Or they didn't have long to go.

Since pigs are the smartest of animals,
A hog named Snowball stepped up.
His bright ideas gave the animals hope,
From Mare to Donkey to Pup.

Another hog named Napoleon
Hated Snowball for all he was worth.
Their ideas completely differed,
And Naploeon wanted him gone more than anything on earth.

But Napoleon kept quiet,
For he was forming an evil plan.
He wanted to get rid of Snowball,
And take over the power of man.

His plan was put into action
And worked better than he had expected.
He sent his fierce dogs on Snowball,
And he was chased off the land; rejected.

The power was finally his!
And he used it very incorrectly.
The animals were now his control.
And the leadership was his directly.

So Napoleon got what he wanted,
To the expense of others he ran.
A failing farm,
Where there was much alarm,
His power was like unto man....