English Blog

In following him, I follow but myself.

Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty,

But seeming so for my peculiar end.

For when my outward action doth demonstrate

The native act and figure of my heart

In complement extern, ‘tis not long after

But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve

For daws to peck at. I am not what I am.

-Iago, 1.1.64

    The above passage really gives the reader an insight into Iago’s true character and his malicious intentions. The first three lines are essentially Iago telling the audience of how he has no plans to ever follow the orders of his superiors. The next line explains that Iago “seems” to obey orders but only to benefit himself in the end. The rest of Iago’s speech to Roderigo tells of what would happen if he obeyed his superiors. In modern day terms it means, “ when my true intentions, hidden within my heart, are revealed it will not be long before I will be vulnerable to the cruelty of my masters (daws).” It is no coincidence that Iago compares daws, stupid birds, to his superiors, which he has no respect for. Finally, the last sentence of this speech, and probably the most important is, “I am not what I am.” By this Iago means to say, “though I may appear to be loyal to my master, Othello, and have his best interests at heart, I do not I only have my own.” In simpler terms Iago is saying, I am not who I appear to be. This is an important passage, foreshadowing the future. Iago will do whatever he needs to do to achieve his goals no matter how many people he hurts along the way.

Have you ever been “taken in” by someone who pretended to be your friend, but who really wanted to hurt [use] you?  Why were you “blinded” by their actions or words?

            It was the first day of seventh grade.  There were four new boys joining our class, Ryan, Andrew, Sam and Spencer.  As soon as I saw him, I knew I liked him, though I did not know why.  Maybe it was his curly hair or his big hazel eyes or maybe it was his big, straight, perfect white smile.  As time went on, Spencer told me he liked me too.  I was so happy to finally know that I was not living the lie of a one-sided relationship.  Little did I know, it would be a very short-lived happiness.  One day Spencer asked me to help him with his English homework.  Of course, I was happy to do it and had no hesitation in thinking that he might have the intention of hurting or using me.  After a few weeks, I began to notice a pattern, Spencer was asking me fore help with his homework, whether it was Math or English, almost every morning.  Finally, one morning came when Spencer just asked to “see” my homework.  Reluctantly, I surrendered the piece of graph paper containing my math homework.  I told him that he could not copy the answers, but if it helped him to have an image of the graphs in his head before he began the problem that was fine.  It was then that I made my tragic error; I got up to go to the bathroom, leaving my homework alone with Spencer.  It just so happened, that while I was in the bathroom, our math teacher walked by and saw him copying my homework.  We were both chastised thoroughly and received strong admonitions that if this sort of incident was to ever happen again it would result in serious consequences.  It was then that I realized Spencer was only interested in using me to achieve higher grades than he would otherwise receive.  I thought for days about whether or not could still like someone who had used me in such an awful way.  I began to think about why or how I could have ever had feelings for him in the first place.  I finally came to the conclusion that he was very suave and a very smooth talker.  I realized that had I not been partial to him, I might have seen what kind of person he was from the beginning and possibly avoided getting in trouble.  In addition, if Spencer had not made himself seem so helpless, because he had trouble with homework, and made me seem so valiant, because I understood and was able to help him with the homework, I might have avoided the entire scenario. The relationship I shared with Spencer is very similar to that shared by Iago and all the other characters in Shakespeare’s play, Othello.  Iago is a very smooth talker who makes himself seem nice when he really has only bad intentions at heart.  Iago uses other people to get what he wants no matter what the consequences for that person are.  For all intensive purposes, Spencer might as well change his name to Iago.

Have you ever felt angry or jealous when someone whom you thought not as deserving as yourself was rewarded with a special honor or accolade (look it up!).

About a year ago, I was graduating eighth grade from St. Matthew’s Parish School. Four to five students from my class would be chosen to give a speech at the graduation ceremony. One day, after school, everyone who was interested in giving a speech at graduation recited their speeches in front of the class and the entire faculty. I had worked for weeks, constantly changing my speech until I thought it was sure to impress everyone. I was however, disappointed when I discovered that I was not one of the five people chosen to speak at graduation. I was jealous of my fellow classmates who had been chosen for such an honor and I wished I were the one receiving that privilege. My feelings were similar to those of Iago, in William Shakespeare’s, Othello. When Iago found out that Othello had chosen Michael Cassio for the position of his lieutenant as opposed to himself, he was enraged and disappointed. Just as Iago feels that he deserves the position of Othello’s lieutenant, I felt that I deserved the position of giving a speech at graduation. I felt as though I was entitled to the privilege of giving a speech because I had been at St. Matthew’s since “Mommy and Me.” On top of my long history at St. Matthew’s, I worked hard to be a stellar student and receive excellent grades. I felt that after all of my hard work I deserved to receive an accolade such as giving a speech at graduation. Iago feels that he has worked hard enough to earn the position and that he deserves it. However, unlike Iago, I realized there was nothing I could do to change the decision my classmates and faculty had made. Iago is determined to get even with Othello while I just wanted to let go and move on.

What are things that make a relationship work?  What kinds of things can destroy a relationship?  Are they the same things?

            For a relationship to function in a comfortable, balanced manner, both people involved in the relationship need to contribute many components.  A few important components of a relationship are trust, commitment and love.  Trust is the foundation of every relationship.  Without trust, a relationship is sure to fail in a very short time.  It is extremely important that both people involved in the relationship are able to share their feelings with each other openly.  If this is not able to occur then secrets will be formed and lies will be told to cover up the secrets and any relationship based on lies is doomed to fail.  Commitment is also an important aspect of a relationship because if both people in the relationship are not committed to the relationship, it will never work.  It is not enough for one person alone to be committed to the relationship and for the other person not to be committed to the relationship because this means that each of them has different intentions and are not communicating clearly, which is also “bad news” for a relationship. Love is probably the most important component of a relationship.  It is necessary for a relationship to contain love because if it does not the relationship is pointless.  For a relationship to be successful there needs to be a mutual love.  Whether that is discovered right away or later on, it nonetheless needs to exist for a relationship to work.  The components that can tear a relationship apart are the same as the components that can make one strong.  Lack of trust, commitment and love will doom a relationship from the beginning for the above-mentioned reasons.  In closing, a good relationship is a difficult thing to find and a lucky thing to have.  

            First, the flour, salt and sugar.  Next, the butter, vanilla extract, eggs and water are added to the dry ingredients.  The batter, now a light yellowish, creamy color smells like a sweet, fresh spring day.  All of a sudden, nothing else exists in the world; the only existing smell is that of overpowering cake batter now making its way slowly into the glass pan in which it will bake.  The batter, glides down the side of the metal cooking bowl into the cloudy, greased, thirteen by nine inch glass-baking dish.  The clanging of the dish on the metal racks of the oven brings a sugar-filled mind back to reality.  The timer is set for thirty minutes.  Sitting in the other room, the smell of the rising batter soon wafts in tempting the taste buds of anticipation.  After thirty minutes, the only sound to be heard is the beeping of the incessant timer.  The cake, now golden brown, smells of sweet fields of vanilla and sugar cane on a hot summer day.  As the cake cools, its smell drifts throughout the entire two-story house until it has invaded every possible corner and crevice.  About an hours time has passed, now ready for the cool vanilla icing, the cake waits on the stove.  The knife jabs into the smooth, untouched, whipped vanilla icing allowing the scent of it to float into the open nostrils directly above it.  Gliding over the cake the knife spreads the icing evenly over the rounded top of the golden brown vanilla cake.  Once the whole cake had been coated in icing, it is ready for a topping.  Strawberries, raspberries, other fruits, sprinkles, candy; there is an endless amount of choices.  As the fresh cut strawberries sink into the icing the two smells mix causing an aroma of sweet vanilla strawberries to circulate around the kitchen.  Lastly, the sprinkles are added to lightly to the top of the cake.  They create a swishing sound as then leave the jar and fall lightly onto the blank, white icing.  The cake’s aroma now to tempting to resist in enjoyed until there is only the dish left on which it was placed for display.

Thesis:

            By the end of the novel, Mr. Darcy had changes from being pompous, full of pride, arrogant and above society to being caring, polite, amiable and vulnerable.

·        What: Mr. Darcy makes a change

·        So What: How he changes (from what to what)

Quotes:

·        “Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention…to be compared with his friend.” (Austen 12)

·        “Mr. Darcy danced only with Mrs. Hurst…every body hoped that he would never come there again.” (13)

·        “ Bingley was endeared to Darcy…Darcy was continually giving offence.” (18)

·        “How frequently Mr. Darcy’s eyes…was still more strange.” (50)

·        “You either chuse this method…as I sit by the fire.” (55)

·        “The world is blinded…only as he chuses to be seen.” (77)

·        “In vain I have…I admire and love you.” (185)

·        “You have said quite enough…your health and happiness.” (188)

·        “If it be so… to be easily touched.” (192)

• DARCY’S LETTER (191-197)
• “And his behavior, so strikingly…” (242
• “The conversation soon turned upon fishing…” (244)
• “He is perfectly well behaved…” (246)
• “Darcy’s civility and above all…” (247)
• “ Of Mr. Darcy it was now a matter…” (252)
• MRS. GARDINER’S LETTER (304-308)
• “Mr. What’s his name…” (315)
• “To Jane he could be only a man…” (316)
• “…she did not think…” (319)
• “You are too…” (346)
• “My object then…” (349)
• “I roused your interest…” (559)
• “Darcy, as well as Elizabeth, really loved…” (367)

How the quotes help:

• “Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention…to be compared with his friend.” (Austen 12)
  • This quote will be good to give a physical description of Darcy
  • It will help the character understand him and his presence before the change
  • It will place an image in the readers head of what Darcy looked like

• “Mr. Darcy danced only with Mrs. Hurst…every body hoped that he would never come there again.” (13)

o       He declined to be introduced to any other lady: this shows his arrogance and belief that he is above everyone else at the party and also his shyness

o       This is a good example to demonstrate how Darcy acted before his change due to meeting Elizabeth

• “Darcy’s civility and above all…” (247)
  • This quote shows a much softer side of Darcy
  • It shows how he wants Lizzy to get to know his sister
  • He wants to be with Lizzy and how he has become more civil to Lizzy and people of her class in an attempt to get closer to her
  • Needless to say he is not just doing this to marry her, he had changed so that he may be with the woman he loves
  • HE IS NOW CIVIL and NOT PROUD!!!

• “Mr. What’s his name…” (315)

• • When Kitty first sees Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy coming towards the house she does not remember his name
  • Instead she remembers him as the “tall, proud man”

Kitty is not yet aware of Mr. Darcy’s change and has the memory of her first impression of him being a negative one

My Opinion of Mr. Darcy

Passage List/Quotes:

·        “Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention…to be compared with his friend.” (Austen 12)

·        “Mr. Darcy danced only with Mrs. Hurst…every body hoped that he would never come there again.” (13)

·        “ Bingley was endeared to Darcy…Darcy was continually giving offence.” (18)

·        “How frequently Mr. Darcy’s eyes…was still more strange.” (50)

·        “You either chuse this method…as I sit by the fire.” (55)

·        “The world is blinded…only as he chuses to be seen.” (77)

·        “In vain I have…I admire and love you.” (185)

·        “You have said quite enough…your health and happiness.” (188)

·        “If it be so… to be easily touched.” (192)

·        DARCY’S LETTER (191-197)

                Mr. Darcy is a very reserved and quiet man who often has an opinion but does not always know how to share it with others.  Many people in the novel are quite quick to judge Darcy on his looks alone without becoming intimate with him beforehand.  People soon realize Mr. Darcy is not good at socializing with people of a lesser rank than he is.  For example, when he is described as, “… and spent the rest of the evening walking about the room, speaking occasionally to one of his own party” (Austen 13).  Mr. Darcy was soon discovered to be a very proud and arrogant man with whom nobody wished to converse.  Darcy occasionally becomes swollen with pride; in that he believes he is of higher class that anyone else in the room.  This is demonstrated in the text when Mr. Wickam mentions, with regard to Darcy, “The world is blinded by his fortune and consequence, or frightened by his high and imposing manners, and sees him only as he chuses to be seen” (77).  By this comment, Wickam means to say that Darcy is not bothered by what anyone else thinks of him because he knows that he will always have his pride.  This is a bad quality in Darcy because events along with the opinions of others form and shape who one becomes in life.  The fact that Darcy is protected by his pride and arrogance prevents him from molding through experience.  He therefore, does not change based on events and remains a very solemn, quiet character in the novel because that is where he his most comfortable; and where his pride can protect him to the fullest.  Mr. Darcy has some moments where he speaks his mind, however, he is very reserved in the way in which he does so.  For instance, a moment occurs in the novel when Darcy voices his opinions on Caroline Bingley and Elizabeth Bennet walking about the room; he says, “You either chuse this method of passing the evening because you are in each other’s confidence and have secret affairs to discuss, or because you are conscious that your figures appear to the greatest advantage in walking;- if the first, I should be completely in your way;- and if the second, I can admire you much better as I sit by the fire” (55).   This quote shows that Darcy while he has opinions usually keeps them to himself, unless the rare occasion appears for him to flaunt his pride and superiority in many and most situations.  In this instance Darcy chuses to make a smart comment to display his swollen pride and extremely large ego; however, he soon realizes that he has put his pride at risk of ridicule and quickly retreats back into his safety zone, in which his pride cannot be damaged.  In closing, Darcy is in general a smart man who is afraid of change and greatly dislikes awkward situations especially those that involve people of lower classes. 

“…I have had the pleasure of your acquaintance long enough to know, that you find great enjoyment in occasionally professing opinions which in fact are not your own.” – p. 170

What does Mr. Darcy mean by this statement to Elizabeth?

Put into my own words, Mr. Darcy is saying, I have known you long enough to understand that you are pleased by sometimes openly declaring or claiming opinions or beliefs that are not your own. Mr. Darcy means to say that Elizabeth’s opinion that, out of pure enjoyment for himself he is trying to alarm her while she is playing the piano, is not really her true opinion.  Mr. Darcy believes that Elizabeth finds it amusing to fool people by intermittently sharing opinions that are not really her opinions.  He also believes that in this case she is misreading his actions towards her as negative when they are in fact positive.  For instance, from the point of view of Mr. Darcy, he is only trying to admire Elizabeth, as she plays piano.  However, Elizabeth chooses to see it as Mr. Darcy trying to alarm her but when, in fact, her true opinion and interpretation of the matter is that Mr. Darcy is trying to admire her.  Mr. Darcy believes that Elizabeth understands he is trying to admire her (and not to alarm her), however, she “chooses” to see it as a negative action, (which is not her true opinion).  Mr. Darcy therefore, declares aloud, yet in a very discreet way, that Elizabeth knows his intentions, even though she may state them as something different.

What is your relationship like with your sibling(s)? How far would you go to protect them or give them comfort? For example, would you walk three miles and stay with people you didn’t like from your sibling like Elizabeth did (for Jane)? Why?

            I regard my older sister, Katie, with endless admiration and the utmost affection.  As far as protecting her goes, I would put my life on the line to save hers.  She has been there for me for all fourteen years of my life and though we may occasionally bicker, I will never cease to love her with all my heart.  I would do anything for her.  This very point was proved at our three-story condominium in Mammoth.  Katie and I were sleeping in the loft on the third floor and my parents were sleeping in their room on the first floor.  All of a sudden, in the inky black of the night, I heard Katie’s light, low-pitched voice saying, “Annie, Annie are you awake?”  I woke up peering through the dark and immediately inquired as to what troubled her.  She told me she felt ill, and since the stomach flu was plaguing our extended family who had just spent a few days with us at our condo, I figured she must have the flu.  I ran down two long flights of stairs as fast as I could to tell my mother to comfort her. Indeed, Katie was very sick.  I stayed up all night with her and my mother and watched her get sick hoping she would feel better soon.  Within a few days, she was better.  She thanked me for being there for her in her time of need.  I told her, “That is what sisters do.”  As Louisa May Alcott once said, “(to) Help one another, is part of the religion of sisterhood.”  No matter where I am, or what I am doing, I will do anything to help my sister because that is how much I love her.  There is really no way to express my love for my sister for there is no word that conveys a large enough significance.  I cannot show how much I love her by spreading out my arms apart as far as they will go.  Nor can I say I love her to the moon and back a million times because that still does not contain enough significance to describe my love for my sister.  What I can say, is that my love for her has no end and no limit, it grows with each year, month, week, day, hour, minute and second and never stops.  

            Elizabeth Bennet.  Ms. Elizabeth is the second eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bennet.  She is intelligent, caring and charming, adding comedy and quick-witted dialogue to the novel.  Elizabeth is described by her father as being “more of quickness than her sisters.”  This is to say she is smarter than her four sisters.  Ms. Elizabeth is also caring and compassionate, especially when it comes to her older sister, the eldest Ms. Bennet, Jane.  Elizabeth is supportive of Jane and her desire; and constantly encourages her to try new, exciting things.  For example, Elizabeth encourages Jane to spend more time with Mr. Bingley in hopes, he may come to love, and maybe even marry, her.  Jane is shy and not very outgoing.  Conversely, Elizabeth is not afraid to put her self out in the open and is not afraid of being judged.  In addition, she is not eager to marry, especially to a man with a lot of money.  This is an admirable quality in Elizabeth because it demonstrates that she is willing to stand up for herself and will not change who she is for anyone.  For this reason Elizabeth is an important character thus far in Pride and Prejudice.