Open Prompt October 30

1979. Choose a complex and important character in a novel or a play of recognized literary merit who might on the basis of the character's actions alone be considered evil or immoral. In a well-organized essay, explain both how and why the full presentation of the character in the work makes us react more sympathetically than we otherwise might. Avoid plot summary.

His favorite hobby being ultra-violence, it is doubtless that Alex of A Clockwork Orange should be considered evil. The delight he experiences in rape and random acts of violence first causes revulsion in the reader, yet gradually a sense of sympathy develops for him. Through alienating Alex to his peers and pitting him against an equally repugnant society, Burgess creates a more sympathetic reaction than Alex’s actions deserve at face value.

            Although mindlessly destructive, Alex is isolated from the  droogs he commands. His great appreciation of art and beauty gives him a depth his peers will never understand.  The reader comes to admire Alex for his taste and wit. Further sympathy is given to Alex as his gang betrays him, although one abhorrers Alex’s actions, pity and outrage is still felt for his misfortunes. One can easily relate to the experience of being stabbed in the back more than empathize with Alex’s victims through the separation caused by Burgess’ Nadsat language.

            When compared to a hypocritical and equally violent government, Alex’s actions paint him in a better light. As they torture and experiment on him the reader feels that Alex becomes something of a martyr. Alex comes to symbolize freewill instead of drug-fueled violence.  Burgess turns Alex into a passionate opponent of hypocrisy. The government that punishes him for his violent acts receives the same joy he does in violence.

            Although we should condemn Alex for his violence, we find ourselves drawn to his magnetic personality and suffering. Burgess creates a moral dilemma, we gradually come to respect him as a protagonist, yet are repulsed by his actions.

Response to class Material

We've nearly concluded our time with The American Dream, examining themes, characterization, and how many metaphors for sex Albee can cram in there. The more I read the play, the more I like Grandma. She's wise without being pretentious, and has the best comic timing in the entire play. I really enjoyed her spats with Mommy. Albee has an interesting point, the idea of America was founded with more social ideals in mind, while it has become a materialistic and unsatisfying scramble. Maybe this is why Finland has a ridiculously high percent of artisan furniture makers, lower average income, and much greater national level of happiness.
In other news, we've been continuing with our work in creating concise essays. I'm glad we got a shot to rewrite the Eros essay. Detail example in mine was akin to "Eros said some things".

Close Reading Oct 23

http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/10/23/do-good-debaters-make-good-presidents/debates-are-slugfests-that-promote-extremism
Debates are Slugfests that Promote Extremism

The diction choice of the title pretty much sets the informal tone for this article. The author doesn't really try to put on any kind polished diction choices, giving it the sense of debating politics with Aunt Jane and Uncle Jimmy. Sure, they're reasonably informed, but this isn't what they do for a job. It gives the article a trustworthy, familiar feeling, but not necessarily the most formal. The use of some light slang permeates the article.
The author also employs informal syntax. Many sentences begin with conjunctions and follow informal speech patterns. One gets a feeling that this is exactly as the author talks, it creates an almost chummy feeling.
Saving the article from feeling like an undereducated piece of mush, the author incorporates sophisticated detail. Including the Douglass/Lincoln debates was an effective tool in conveying knowledge and being able to trace continuities. Although bringing up Reagan is not particularly impressive, the author provides good examples of how debates swayed the election.

Open Prompt 2 (moved from end of previous post)

1982. In great literature, no scene of violence exists for its own sake. Choose a work of literary merit that confronts the reader or audience with a scene or scenes of violence. In a well-organized essay, explain how the scene or scenes contribute to the meaning of the complete work. Avoid plot summary.

        

         Violence is sometimes a plot device in novels, a source of conflict or a way to reveal characterization. In other works violence serves to advance the author’s thematic message, A Clock-Work Orange being a prime example. Through use of pervasive violence in his dystopian novel, Burgess advances his statements on brain-washing, societal values, and maturation.

         Just as he uses his slang language of Nadsat to give the reader a feeling of Alex’s brainwashing, Burgess desensitizes the reader with his barrage of violence. Working against the revulsion-triggering Luvodico’s Technique Alex undergoes, the reader is no longer repulsed by the brutality of the actions. Further working against the automatic distaste disturbing violence creates, he makes sociopath Alex a compelling narrator. Despite his delight in rape and “ultra violence”, Alex’s wit, distinguished tastes, and alienation make him appealing, mudding the reader’s moral sensibilities. Burgess conditions the reader through the use of violence to add complexity to his defense of free will.

         Violence allows Burgess to comment on the society and government he has created. Although the government decides to forcibly reform Alex’s violent behavior, the officials are shown to be just as brutal as he is, notably when the doctors administering the Luvodico Technique enjoy Alex’s anguish. Alex, and the acts of violence he commits, are then seen in a more sympathetic light. He becomes a rebel against their hypocrisy, willing to do what they don’t but would like to. Violence comes to symbolize a government not bent on keeping people safe, but keeping people in control.

         At the end of A Clockwork Orange Alex finds that violence is no longer satisfying. Destruction no longer gives him the same enjoyment; he becomes bored in of ultra-violence. Alex matures. Burgess uses violence to make the destructive impulses all humans have into an adolescent phase on the way to mental adulthood. By having Alex grow out of violence Burgess chooses to characterize human nature as not one inherently evil, the developed mind leans towards compassion.

         More than a shock-tool, the violence in A Clockwork Orange gives it thematic value. Without this brutal imagery Burgess could not create a revolting and complex idea for the reader to grapple with. Violence becomes more disturbing as one is no longer disgusted.

Open Prompt 3

1983. From a novel or play of literary merit, select an important character who is a villain. Then, in a well-organized essay, analyze the nature of the character's villainy and show how it enhances meaning in the work. Do not merely summarize the plot.

            Villains are an essential part of most any work. Apart from their obvious role in plot creation, they reveal and propel the author’s message. Lady Macbeth is exactly this type of character. Complex, ambitious, and definitely evil, she embodies the themes of gender identity conflict and insanity that permeate Macbeth.

         Lady Macbeth acts as the driving force behind Macbeth’s ascension through her ruthless ambition. So determined is Lady Macbeth to become queen, she attempts to purge herself of any empathetic and “feminine” characteristics. She equates her femininity with mothering qualities, declaring to herself that she would bash in the skull of the infant she nursed. Notably, she and Macbeth appear to have no children; symbolically Lady Macbeth is incapable of nourishing life, she is too consumed by her own ambition. Lady Macbeth’s campaign against the stereotypical “delicate” qualities of females extends beyond her own gender. When she needs to goad Macbeth into action she attacks his masculinity, calling him a woman when he hesitates to kill King Duncan.

         Although she is capable of dealing with Macbeth’s growing insanity in front of guests, Lady Macbeth eventually cracks under the guilt of her actions. The appearance and obsession with the unreal is mirrored in speeches of Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. While he is immediately guilt stricken, he hallucinates a dagger. Her reaction is delayed, but more impressively insane; Lady Macbeth’s guilt manifests itself in blood she cannot rid her hands of and she eventually kills herself. Insanity becomes a form of atonement; only through her death can she clean her hands of her part in treason.

         Lady Macbeth, arguably the true villain of Macbeth, becomes the play. Through her manipulation and ambition she develops the themes of gender conflict and insanity. Her death marks the end of Macbeth’s bloody reign, once the driving ambition was gone, his tenuous claim to throne evaporated too.

Response to Class Material 2

I don't know about you, but I really enjoy Albee. So funny, so biting. I really enjoyed reading "The American Dream" in class, plays have to be read aloud to really make sense to me. I never can seem to get a sense for how to flows and breathes without listening to it performed. That was a great time too, I'm glad everybody read with such gusto. It stinks to have people be unenthusiastic. In other news, we've been continuing our work on constructing essays, paying particular attention to thesis and intro sentences. Those are really the tricky parts of the essay in my opinion. Once you have the track laid out the essay can almost chug along on its own.

Close Reading 2

Up From Ugliness
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/09/opinion/sunday/douthat-up-from-ugliness.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
The passing of Steve Jobs, the contraversial visionary or phony, has prompted many to reflect on his life and accomplishments. So soon after his death, the glowing sides of his career are discussed and admired. The author of this article is no exception, crediting Jobs with something of a aesthetic renaissance.
A contemplative and thoughtful mood is sustained through most of the article, interesting in that the author seems to take pains not to present an overly glorified view of Jobs. Although the Jobs' gadgets are described as "exquisite" they are also referred to as a "mirror to our vanity" conserning the lack of strides made in medicine in comparison. The diction of this article walks the fine line between educated and snobbery. While the author choices many words of above average education ("utilitarian", "curvaceous", "solipsism"), the author is not above describing architechture as "blah". This creates a sense of trust, the author is not putting on airs of education, but happens to be educated and genuinely use impressive vocabulary in normal conversation. The diction choices help maintain a somewhat soleum tone to the article.
One of the most convincing supports of the author's crediting Jobs with bringing back elegance is the lush use of imagery. The architecture of the 80's involves bulldozing, "buried heart of pine floors under shag carpeting" and "raw cement". In contrast when talking about Jobs creations, flowing and dream imagery accompanies. There is a nod to Steam-punk imagination and suave choices of grace and beauty. This helps the author's message that Jobs should not be hailed for creating a market for electronic trinkets, but that his real contribution is a legacy of aesthetic perfection.