Open Prompt Revision (4/21)

2003. According to critic Northrop Frye, "Tragic heroes are so much the highest points in their human landscape that they seem the inevitable conductors of the power about them, great trees more likely to be struck by lightning than a clump of grass. Conductors may of course be instruments as well as victims of the divisive lightning." Select a novel or play in which a tragic figure functions as an instrument of the suffering of others. Then write an essay in which you explain how the suffering brought upon others by that figure contributes to the tragic vision of the work as a whole.

In Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, Willy Loman is a tragic figure.  The culture of a capitalistic society lures Willy to continuously pursue a position in the elite class.  As a result Willy develops a philosophy for succeeding in life, and the choices he makes hinders his sons’ ability to function in the business world.

          Willy measures his success by how well he is liked, and if he is well liked then he surely will succeed in life.  While Willy is a part of the American dream he is missing one key component, working hard.  Because of Willy’s dream to be in the elite class he encourages his sons to pursue the same goal.  Throughout Biff and Happy’s life Willy has taught them to be popular, because as he says, “personality always wins the day” (Miller, 65).  Subsequently Biff doesn’t work hard in school; he copies the answers from his friend Bernard.  Biff believes, as his father has told him, that as long as he is well thought of he will succeed.

           The play shows the tragic ending of Willy who gave his life to a society that exploited him.  Willy furthers the tragedy by instructing his son’s to follow the same path, however, they too fail.  Biff is unable to hold a job because his father taught him never to take orders from anyone.  The Loman’s struggle to pay the bills and put food on the table because Willy refuses to give in.  At the end of the play it is seen that Willy’s dream have failed.  To further the tragedy, his sons will most likely experience a similar fate.

Willy’s teachings to his children contribute to the tragic vision of the work as a whole.  Readers feel sorry for Willy as they realize that his dream to succeed in a capitalistic society fails.  All of his effort to reach the top leads him to an unstable mental condition and eventually his death.  

Ceremony

Author:  Leslie Marmon Silko is only half Native American.  Knowing this helps readers understand Tayo’s struggle in the liminal space, as he too is only half Native American. 

Setting:  Laguna where Tayo and his family live.  In Laguna we see Tayo in bars and his home and also in the mountains.  Each setting is a significant symbol.  For instance the mountains are where spirits are so it is only natural that Tayo goes there for part of the ceremony.  There are also glimpses of Tayo in the Philippines at war.  He is in the jungle, which rains constantly, and where he has to fight for his life and take other’s lives.

Plot:  

• Tayo is trying to find himself and is trying to fit in with Native Americans.
• Tayo’s mother becomes pregnant with him by a non-Native American man.  Auntie refuses to accept Tayo as her own and make sure there is a distinction between him and Rocky. 
• Before the war Tayo has encountered Night Swan who is a yellow woman,
• Rocky and Tayo sign up for the war together but Rocky is killed.
• Tayo is said to have PTSD but the Natives think his issue is something else.  After being in the hospital Tayo returns to Laguna and becomes hopeless as he lies in bed all day.  When he regains his strength he hangs out with his old friends and they go to bars and drink while they remember when they used to be something. 
• Old Ku’oosh who is a Native medicine man visits Tayo and starts the process healing Tayo.  This, however, is not enough so Tayo is sent to Betonie who truly begins the Ceremony
• Tayo feels that he must go find the Josiah’s cattle and carryout Josiah’s plans.  While in the mountains searching for cattle Tayo meets Ts’eh who is a yellow woman and he falls in love with her.  She and the mountain lion protect Tayo.
• After the cattle have been returned Tayo goes to stay near where Ts’eh is.  During his absence Emo spreading rumors about Tayo’s sanity.  As a result Tayo must hide from Emo and his men, and while he is walking along a rode Harley and Leroy pick him up.  At first Tayo thinks that they are still his friends but soon comes to the realization that they have turned against him.  After escaping Tayo runs to an old mine.  Eventually Emo and his men arrive, they pull Harley out of the truck and begin to mutilate and torcher him.  Through strength from yellow woman Tayo remains where he is and is restrained from saving Harley.  This is when the ceremony is complete.

Characters:

Tayo:  He is cousins to Rocky and he is struggling for his identity.  He is only half Native American so he is not fully accepted by the tribe, his family, and himself.  Tayo respects Native culture and learns to embrace it.

Rocky:  He is Auntie and Robert’s son and Tayo’s cousin.  He shows true friendship toward Tayo especially when he refers to Tayo as his brother.  He is all about the American way and rejecting Native culture.

Auntie:  She cares about what people think and she wants people to feel sympathy for all her burdens in life.  She adores Rocky and plans for him to achieve what no other Native has, success in the white world.  She is married to Robert and Rocky is her son. 

Josiah:  He is Auntie’s brother and a father figure to Tayo.  He has wisdom and someone who helps and directs Tayo’s life even after he (Josiah) is dead.

Betonie:  He truly begins Tayo’s healing as he encourages Tayo to fulfill the ceremony.  He is a medicine and has much experience and authority.

Ts’eh:  She is a yellow woman and guides/strengthens Tayo.  She is seen in the sky when Tayo is in the mine when he has to restrain himself.

Emo:  He is jealous of Tayo and is immersed in witchery.  He is angry that he is not white and does not have the same opportunity as whites do and because of this he is bitter and resents Tayo who is half white.

•        The narrative voice is from Tayo’s perspective.  Due to it being from his perspective the tone often shifts from depressed to hopeful as Tayo struggles with his two identities and tries to find a place where he is accepted.  To help convey what is occurring in the story Silko uses poems about ancient Native stories.  These stories are the “backbone” of the novel and reinforce the theme of storytelling.  They provide clarification as to why certain things are happening.  The imagery in the poems, especially when describing the witches, helps the reader understand the story more thoroughly.  Not only are there poems but the story is also all over the place.  Tayo’s mind is thinking about his childhood at one moment and the war the next.  These are flashbacks and at the end, all of the flashbacks put together show Tayo’s life and struggles and how he has grown to accept himself.  Josiah even though he is dead helps Tayo complete the ceremony.  Part of Tayo’s struggle was from feeling guilty about the cattle.  These cattle symbolize the stolen clouds and the resulting drought.  Tayo claims responsibility for this, thus it is his burden and the novel focuses on him discovering a dichotomy between white ways and Native ways.

Quotes:

·       “They never thought to blame the white people for any of it; they wanted white people for their friends. They never saw that it was the white people who gave them that feeling and it was the white people who took it away again when the war was over”.

o   This quote sums up the issue between whites and Natives.  The Natives blame themselves for their problems but in reality the white are at fault.  Tayo understands that Natives will never be accepted and that natives would be better off if they stopped treating whites as gods.

·       “The word he chose to express "fragile" was filled with the intricacies of a continuing process, and with a strength inherent in spider webs woven across paths through sand hills where early in the morning the sun becomes entangled in each filament of web”.

o   This shows the circular symbolism.  All the stories are interconnected and all are a part of the stories; everyone plays a role.  Tayo has to learn that he is a part of the story and has a role to play.

Theme:  Throughout Silko’s novel Ceremony the idea that Tayo is stuck in the liminal space is reinforced as Tayo struggles to reconcile the two cultures to which he belongs.

•        The majority of the story takes place on Native soil but portions of the story take place in the Philippines and on white people’s land.  This is significant because it shows the difference between the two cultures.  While on Native soil Tayo is expected to follow Native tradition, however, when he is at war or being assimilated into American culture his orders are contrary to Native ways.  The setting is such that Native are prevented, literally by barbed wire, from entering white territory.  Inequality is conveyed through the setting.
•        The plot of the story revolves around Tayo trying to find where he belongs.  After years of facing discrimination for being half white Tayo tries to bring his two cultures together.  During his journey he discovers who witches are and their intent on destroying the world.  As Tayo is in the liminal space Emo attempts to destroy him, however, through help from yellow woman Tayo is able to complete the ceremony.
•       Ceremony as the title informs readers that there will be a ceremony throughout the novel.  The purpose of this ceremony is to cure Tayo and from this he learns that he is an equal and that he too is a part of the story.  Due to going through the ceremony Tayo no longer feels trapped in the liminal space.
•        The narrative voice is in third person and it is hard to follow at times.  Similarily Tayo’s life is hard to follow because he is confused about who he is.
•       Silko uses poems throughout the novel to explain what is occurring in the story.  The poems are the backbone and reinforce the idea that the stories repeat themselves.  The poems give reason for Tayo’s struggles and explain why Tayo takes a certain course of action.  The poems guide Tayo through the ceremony.
•        The tone of the novel is melancholy yet also hopeful.  The story is from Tayo’s perspective so it is only natural that it is Tayo’s emotions that direct the story.  For example when Tyao is discouraged because he feel that he will never be accepted and find a way out the tone is melancholy as opposed to when he is in love and excited the tone is hopeful.
•         Imagery used to describe the division in the land between native and white territory depicts and image of isolation and inequality.  Tayo cuts the wire and creates a hole.  This is Tayo bridging the two cultures through himself and taking charge.
•       Circles are a symbol for the reoccurring stories in Ceremony.  Tayo is in the liminal space and is struggling to find a place in one of the worlds.  During the ceremony he learns that he has importance and the constant occurrence of the stories involve him and everyone else.  Every story is the same but it is retold 

Responses to Course Material (4/14)

My thoughts about Ceremony are mixed; at times I enjoyed it and other times I didn't.  Perhaps this is because I didn't fully understand the symbols and the meaning of the piece, but after reading the article the book made more sense.  For instance learning that the color blue represents sacred people and spirits was helpful because it explains why it is associated with Ts'eh.  Another symbol is alcohol which symbolizes the destruction of native culture caused by white people.  I am anxious to compare this book to Fifth Business which I have so far enjoyed reading.  I noticed that Ramsay was in a war and so was Tayo so I wonder how these two character's and their experiences in war will compare.

Open Prompt Revision (3/17)

1981. The meaning of some literary works is often enhanced by sustained allusion to myths, the Bible, or other works of literature. Select a literary work that makes use of such a sustained reference. Then write a well-organized essay in which you explain the allusion that predominates in the work and analyze how it enhances the work's meaning.

**I know that my peers mentioned the need for more allusions, however, I understand the prompt only to be asking for one allusion and how it alone enhances the work's meaning.

                  Oscar Wilde’s novel, “The Picture of Dorian Gray” focuses on Dorian Gray’s change in morals. The innocence once possessed by Dorian is no longer present, and this transformation is achieved through Wilde’s use of a Biblical allusion to the Garden of Eden.  This allusion establishes that there must be responsibility for one’s actions.

                  The beginning of the novel introduces us to a young and innocent boy, Dorian Gray.  However, these characteristics are shortly lived.  Dorian accompanies Lord Henry Wotton who is deceiving and lacking in morals, on a walk through a garden.  The garden is where the loss of innocence and corruption begin; similarly The Garden of Eden is where Adam and Eve fell from grace.  Lord Henry through manipulation encourages Dorian to see his beauty as a distinguishing factor of himself as expressed when Lord Henry says “You have a wonderfully beautiful face…Beauty is a form of Genius-is higher, indeed, than Genius, as it needs no explanation” (34).  Lord Henry assumes the role of Satan as he connives to mold Dorian into his own character.   Resultantly Dorian becomes egotistical and centers his thoughts on materialistic possessions. Dorian’s actions are overshadowed by his everlasting youth and beauty, and through this allusion the reason for the consequences are explored.

                  One cannot disregard his actions and assume that consequences will not arise. From the beginning the reader knows the end of the story based on the allusion. Adam and Eve’s loss of innocence and disobedience toward God resulted in punishment.  They sinned and tried to hide, but God found them out.  Similarly Dorian lives his life without a care, but in the end after causing the death of a young woman, and committing a murder himself, the torture of his sins lead to remorse and his down fall.  This shows that no matter what happens your sins will find you out and repentance is a part of this process.  The allusion enhances this meaning because Dorian’s loss of innocence is related to God, the ultimate judge of everyone.  Readers are better able to relate to Dorian because they know the story of Adam and Eve and the consequences they suffered.  

                  As in the Bible and in “The Picture of Dorian Gray” readers see the allusion to the Garden of Eden and the deceitful temptation from Satan, Lord Henry.  Adam, Eve, and Dorian all lost their innocence from giving into the deception.  The Biblical allusion is necessary to show Dorian’s fall from grace and the severity of this action, while it also directs the reader throughout the novel to help him understand why Dorian repents.   Consequently Wilde’s use of this allusion shows that there are consequences for one’s actions.  

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead Analysis

Author:  Stoppard has much experience in writing and lived for a while in India until his mother married his stepfather, Kenneth Stoppard.  He became very successful right after the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead was performed.

Setting:  The play is set in Denmark begins along a path perhaps in a general area where Guildenstern and Rosencrantz question where they are supposed to be and what they are supposed to be doing.  The majority of the play takes place in Elsinore at the castle, and toward the end of the play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are on a boat on their way to England.

Plot:  The king and queen send for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern because the king and queen need help in discovering the reason for Hamlet’s madness.  On their way to Elsinore they encounter the Players and make a bet with them, except they are then transported inside the castle.  After meeting with Claudius and Gertrude they find Hamlet and speak with him.  Hamlet clearly has the upper hand with his double meanings and he knows why they are actually visiting him, however, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern think that they had the upper hand. While the events in Hamlet unfold Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have more encounters with the Players who are a contrast to their personalities and character.  Claudius ships Hamlet off to England after the murder of Polonius and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are sent with him.  The Players escape onto the boat as well.  While on the boat Rosencrantz and Guildenstern discover that Hamlet is to be killed, however, after the pirates attack the letter has been switched and they discover their own fate.

Significant Characters:

Rosencrantz:  He is not the brain of the two.  He is like a little boy who is just discovering the world for the very first time.  He and Guildenstern often come to the right conclusions but they completely miss the point.

Guildenstern:  He thinks he is the brain but he is often confused and his philosophical analyses consist of the misuse of ideas and concepts.

Hamlet:  The prince of Denmark and troubled by his mother’s haste marriage after the murder of his father by his uncle Claudius.  He knows what is going on and seems to have his life headed in the direction that he thinks destiny wants it to go.

Player:  He acts as a contrast to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern because he and his men have accepted their fate while Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have not.  The Player and the other players seem to know how the play will end, probably because they have put this play on numerous times.

Claudius:  The new king who murdered his brother and married his sister-in-law…incest!

Narrative Voice:  The narrative voice is from multiple characters because it is a play.  From hearing different characters speak we see which ones have accepted their fate and which ones’ struggle with their destiny.  Due the fact that the play is from the point of view of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern we mostly see their inability to cope with their destiny.  They don’t understand why their life ends the way it does. 

Stoppard uses repetition of conversations and of entire scenes and many short sentences.  Guildenstern’s tone is often irritated and sometimes sarcastic when speaking to Rosencrantz, while Rosencrantz’s tone is filled with concern.  Their tone contributes to Stoppard’s style.  When Guildenstern is irritated his lines are curt, but when Rosencrantz is worried he keeps talking.  Stoppard’s style symbolizes that the play is indeed a play and not real life.  In a play the plot has to end the same way every time, but Rosencrantz and Guildenstern haven’t come to terms with their end.  Another symbol is the direction of the wind which shows Rosencrantz and Guildenstern being lost and not knowing what they are supposed to do.  Even though they have been in this play numerous times, they still don’t know what to do, probably because deep down they know their end and they don’t want it to happen.

Quotes:

“Life in a box is better than no life at all” (71).  This quote symbolizes actors on a stage that aren’t truly alive and they are confined in a box (the stage).  Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are actors who don’t actually exist and they know it, therefore, they too are confined to a box and have no control over their fate.

“Life is a gamble, at terrible odds…” (115).  This quote shows that life is random, and what is going to happen will happen.  There is no way to change destiny or one’s fate.  Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have yet to come to terms with this. 

Theme:

In Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern make reference to being on a stage, and through this Stoppard explores the relationship between life and the stage.

Setting:  The setting is in Denmark like Hamlet is and is confined to a box, the stage.  This represents Rosencrantz and Guildenstern being confined and having no choice but to do what everyone else expects them to do.  The castle is such that they go around and around and can’t seem to find their way out.  Again this represents a box and their confinement.

Plot:  Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are sent for to find out what afflicts Hamlet.  In doing so they become entangled in Hamlet’s fate and as a result are put to death.  The plot and their fate are known just as the ending of a play is.  Within the play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern question what they are supposed to be doing and how to counter their destiny.  Part of the plot is informing the audience that the actors know they are in a play.

Work’s Title:  The title of the play Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead gives away the ending of the play and their fate.  This is like a play that has been showing numerous times because people know what is going to happen.  Therefore, it informs readers that this is just a play, not reality, because no one knows the ending of reality.

Narrative Voice:  The narrative voice is from many characters which again shows that this is a play and not real life.  From hearing many characters speak we see which one’s struggle with their fate at the end of the play.

Author’s Style:  Stoppard uses short sentences with repetition when Guildenstern and Rosencrantz are talking.  This shows their confusion of what they are supposed to be doing.  Not only are words and lines repeated but also entire scenes and conversations thus showing Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s life is just a circle being repeated; it isn’t real. 

Tone:  Guildenstern’s irritated tone and Rosencrantz’s worried tone shows their knowledge and agitation about their end.  Even in real life people are concerned about their fate and their tone shows that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are no different.

Imagery:  The description of how the coin continues to land on heads contributes to the question over life and the stage.  The imagery created shows that their is no chance and what is going to happen will happen, this happens in a play and in real life.

Symbolism:  The flipping of the coin is a symbol for what is reality.  Due to the fact that the law of probability doesn’t work symbolizes that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are in a play, not reality.