Monday, December 9, 2013
LIFE AFTER THIS BLOG POST
I will be receiving my email on December 9, 2014, exactly a year from today. I honestly hope that when I receive my letter, life has improved. In my letter, I told myself how proud I was of myself and what I've managed to overcome so far. I also listed a few things which I hope to improve on by the time I receive my letter. I told myself to believe in myself, love myself, and be myself. Writing my email gave me the opportunity to reflect on my life and express my many thoughts and ideas that I've kept bottled in. In my letter, I also told myself to stop stressing out and continue to move forward in life no matter what may cross my path. This assignment was very therapeutic, thank you Dr. Preston. (:
Sunday, December 1, 2013
PRACTICE ESSAY
Characters are perceived based on how they respond to certain situations. In "No Exit" by Jean Paul Sartre and "The Allegory of the Cave" by Plato, characters are characterized based on their actions and reactions to specific events. Imagine one of the prisoners from "The Allegory of the Cave" going on a backpacking expedition in the wilderness. Throughout the backpacking expedition the prisoner is to do everything for himself in order to have a successful trip. How exactly would he adapt to his new environment? How would he handle this adventure?
Based on the prisoner's surroundings in "The Allegory of the Cave," he would not only have a challenging time adapting to the wilderness physically, but mentally as well. Due to the darkness of the cave, the prisoner would have an extremely difficult time adjusting to the bright sky of the outside world. As shadows as the only form of the prisoner's knowledge regarding the outside world, the prisoner would also encounter a variety of obstacles along the way. Due to the very fact that the prisoner is unaware of how anything actually looks in the outside world, he would have a fairly difficult time identifying poisonous plants, clean drinking water, as well as a safe campground. He would not even have the ability to distinguish a plant from a tree, let alone know how a leaf looks, or even feels. In "The Allegory of the Cave," Plato's characters are characterized to be fearful of the outside world. The slaves were unwilling to leave the cave because they were afraid of the unknown. The prisoner would ultimately struggle to do anything which requires leaving the cave. The prisoners of the cave were afraid of what they did not recognize, therefore, overcoming this fear, breaking out of their comfort zone, and exploring new paths would be an overwhelming situation for a prisoner.
However, Garcin from "No Exit" would respond to the backpacking expedition in a slightly different manner. Although Garcin wouldn't struggle to recognize anything from the outside world, he would have a difficult time exploring different paths on his own. Like the prisoner, he would be uncomfortable leaving the room and choose to stay because he would refuse to explore a different environment, even when given the opportunity. Garcin would much rather stay in an atmosphere he is unhappy with, than be independent and do something on his own.
Based on their characterization's, characters will respond differently to similar situations. Plato's characterization of the prisoners demonstrates the fear which the prisoners dealt with. The prisoner were afraid of everything that was not in the cave; everything that they did not know. Sartre, however, characterizes his characters to be somewhat dependent. In "No Exit," the characters are given the opportunity to leave the hell, but they all decide to remain in the room because they do no wish to go on all on their own and ultimately discover beyond their surrounding.
Based on the prisoner's surroundings in "The Allegory of the Cave," he would not only have a challenging time adapting to the wilderness physically, but mentally as well. Due to the darkness of the cave, the prisoner would have an extremely difficult time adjusting to the bright sky of the outside world. As shadows as the only form of the prisoner's knowledge regarding the outside world, the prisoner would also encounter a variety of obstacles along the way. Due to the very fact that the prisoner is unaware of how anything actually looks in the outside world, he would have a fairly difficult time identifying poisonous plants, clean drinking water, as well as a safe campground. He would not even have the ability to distinguish a plant from a tree, let alone know how a leaf looks, or even feels. In "The Allegory of the Cave," Plato's characters are characterized to be fearful of the outside world. The slaves were unwilling to leave the cave because they were afraid of the unknown. The prisoner would ultimately struggle to do anything which requires leaving the cave. The prisoners of the cave were afraid of what they did not recognize, therefore, overcoming this fear, breaking out of their comfort zone, and exploring new paths would be an overwhelming situation for a prisoner.
However, Garcin from "No Exit" would respond to the backpacking expedition in a slightly different manner. Although Garcin wouldn't struggle to recognize anything from the outside world, he would have a difficult time exploring different paths on his own. Like the prisoner, he would be uncomfortable leaving the room and choose to stay because he would refuse to explore a different environment, even when given the opportunity. Garcin would much rather stay in an atmosphere he is unhappy with, than be independent and do something on his own.
Based on their characterization's, characters will respond differently to similar situations. Plato's characterization of the prisoners demonstrates the fear which the prisoners dealt with. The prisoner were afraid of everything that was not in the cave; everything that they did not know. Sartre, however, characterizes his characters to be somewhat dependent. In "No Exit," the characters are given the opportunity to leave the hell, but they all decide to remain in the room because they do no wish to go on all on their own and ultimately discover beyond their surrounding.
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX
QUESTIONS:
Think about the place you have chosen as your hell. Does it look ordinary and bourgeois, like Sartre's drawing room, or is it equipped with literal instruments of torture like Dante's Inferno? Can the mind be in hell in a beautiful place? Is there a way to find peace in a hellish physical environment? Enter Sartre's space more fully and imagine how it would feel to live there endlessly, night and day:
- My hell is similar to the hell in Dante's Inferno. In my hell, there is fire everywhere, it's extremely loud, and you're surrounded by people you dislike. In my hell, you are always angry, continually tortured, and you are unhappy no matter what. I believe that the mind can be in hell while in a beautiful place. If one's mind is filled with negative thoughts and ideas, a beautiful surrounding does not make a difference. When one is in a negative state of mind a surrounding has no positive impact on them, negativity is the only thing on their mind and nothing can fix their state of mind, only they have the power to do so. There is a way to find peace in a hellish physical environment. I believe that if a person is in a hellish atmosphere, but has a positive state mind they will have the ability to find peace.
Could hell be described as too much of anything without a break? Are variety, moderation and balance instruments we use to keep us from boiling in any inferno of excess,' whether it be cheesecake or ravenous sex?
- I believe that hell could be described as too much of anything without a break. Variety, moderation and balance are instruments used to keep individuals from boiling in any inferno of excess. Too much of anything eventually gets tiring and when one has too much of something they do not function very well and grow frustrated. Breaks keep people sane, without breaks people would not be able to get through life.
How does Sartre create a sense of place through dialogue? Can you imagine what it feels like to stay awake all the time with the lights on with no hope of leaving a specific place? How does GARCIN react to this hell? How could you twist your daily activities around so that everyday habits become hell? Is there a pattern of circumstances that reinforces the experience of hell?
- Sartre creates a sense of place through Garcin and Valet's conversation. Based off of their conversation, one is able to imagine this hell through Garcin's questions and Valet's answers. I don't wish to imagine what is feels like to stay awake all the time with the lights on with no hope of leaving a certain place, it seems like torture and a situation of great misery and frustration. Garcin is curious yet confused about this hell. This hell is nothing compared to what he expected, therefore his question asking demonstrates his curiosity. School can become hell. No passing periods, no lunch, and remaining in one class room with constant lesson could become hell.
COMPARISON:
Compare how Plato and Sartre describe the limitations of our thinking and imply solutions to the problem. Be sure to analyze their literary techniques, especially their use of allegory and extended metaphor.
Plato
- The cave is a prison.
- Prisoners are chained up in the cave.
- Hellish physical environment: darkness, chains, fire, shadows.
- Leaving the cave is the only way to become educated and gain knowledge.
- Knowledge sets prisoners free.
- Enlightenment is gained from knowledge of the outside world.
- Voices outside the cave represent the reality of life.
- Imagery: the cave, fire, shadows, and prisoners.
Sartre
- The room is a prison (hell).
- Prisoners are Inez, Garcin, and Estelle.
- Hell is an ordinary room.
- Hell is other people.
- Can leave, choose not to.
- Learning about each other is the only way to "avoid torture."
- The voices they are able to hear are from real life (their past life).
- Imagery: the room, furniture, light.
- Indirect Characterization: we learn about the characters through dialogue.
Think about the place you have chosen as your hell. Does it look ordinary and bourgeois, like Sartre's drawing room, or is it equipped with literal instruments of torture like Dante's Inferno? Can the mind be in hell in a beautiful place? Is there a way to find peace in a hellish physical environment? Enter Sartre's space more fully and imagine how it would feel to live there endlessly, night and day:
- My hell is similar to the hell in Dante's Inferno. In my hell, there is fire everywhere, it's extremely loud, and you're surrounded by people you dislike. In my hell, you are always angry, continually tortured, and you are unhappy no matter what. I believe that the mind can be in hell while in a beautiful place. If one's mind is filled with negative thoughts and ideas, a beautiful surrounding does not make a difference. When one is in a negative state of mind a surrounding has no positive impact on them, negativity is the only thing on their mind and nothing can fix their state of mind, only they have the power to do so. There is a way to find peace in a hellish physical environment. I believe that if a person is in a hellish atmosphere, but has a positive state mind they will have the ability to find peace.
Could hell be described as too much of anything without a break? Are variety, moderation and balance instruments we use to keep us from boiling in any inferno of excess,' whether it be cheesecake or ravenous sex?
- I believe that hell could be described as too much of anything without a break. Variety, moderation and balance are instruments used to keep individuals from boiling in any inferno of excess. Too much of anything eventually gets tiring and when one has too much of something they do not function very well and grow frustrated. Breaks keep people sane, without breaks people would not be able to get through life.
How does Sartre create a sense of place through dialogue? Can you imagine what it feels like to stay awake all the time with the lights on with no hope of leaving a specific place? How does GARCIN react to this hell? How could you twist your daily activities around so that everyday habits become hell? Is there a pattern of circumstances that reinforces the experience of hell?
- Sartre creates a sense of place through Garcin and Valet's conversation. Based off of their conversation, one is able to imagine this hell through Garcin's questions and Valet's answers. I don't wish to imagine what is feels like to stay awake all the time with the lights on with no hope of leaving a certain place, it seems like torture and a situation of great misery and frustration. Garcin is curious yet confused about this hell. This hell is nothing compared to what he expected, therefore his question asking demonstrates his curiosity. School can become hell. No passing periods, no lunch, and remaining in one class room with constant lesson could become hell.
COMPARISON:
Compare how Plato and Sartre describe the limitations of our thinking and imply solutions to the problem. Be sure to analyze their literary techniques, especially their use of allegory and extended metaphor.
Plato
- The cave is a prison.
- Prisoners are chained up in the cave.
- Hellish physical environment: darkness, chains, fire, shadows.
- Leaving the cave is the only way to become educated and gain knowledge.
- Knowledge sets prisoners free.
- Enlightenment is gained from knowledge of the outside world.
- Voices outside the cave represent the reality of life.
- Imagery: the cave, fire, shadows, and prisoners.
Sartre
- The room is a prison (hell).
- Prisoners are Inez, Garcin, and Estelle.
- Hell is an ordinary room.
- Hell is other people.
- Can leave, choose not to.
- Learning about each other is the only way to "avoid torture."
- The voices they are able to hear are from real life (their past life).
- Imagery: the room, furniture, light.
- Indirect Characterization: we learn about the characters through dialogue.
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