Sunday, October 19, 2014
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Can't Bury These Tales
Jane Eyre Question 4
What does Mr. Brocklehurst’s analogy between the ill-prepared breakfast and the “sufferings of the primitive Christians…the torments of martyrs…the exhortations of our blessed Lord Himself” reveal about his character? How does this attitude contrast with that of Miss Temple to reveal the author’s social message?
Based on the limited views or interactions that I have had with Mr. Brocklehurst in this reading, he already seems like a hypocritical, self centered jerk, who is simply using the school as a way to seem like a better person and make money. His analogy concerning the breakfast versus the trials and tribulations of early Christians shows Mr. Brocklehurst as a smooth talking sleaze bag, since he is using religion as a way to justify his own ends. He tries to claim that forcing children to skip breakfast because the cook messed it up is comparable to being crucified for refusing to stop preaching what you believe in. This is absolutely wrong and immediately makes me dislike Mr. Brocklehurst as a person. It does not help my opinion of him when his lady friends arrive, all extravagantly dressed and very fashionable for the time period. I inferred that Mr. Brocklehurst was providing the clothes for these women, which makes him the ultimate hypocrite for preaching to Miss Temple about humility and sobriety. It also shows that he has plenty of money, more than enough to provide decent clothes or food to the children at the school so that they don't die, as opposed to fake hair curls for his wife so she can look fancy.
Mr. Brocklehurst puts on a false front of piety and charity, but in the end all he really cares about is himself. Miss Temple on the other hand, is strict but fair in the passage. She does not baby or pamper the students at the school, but at the same time she is not unfairly cruel to them either. This creates an interesting contrast in the passage. At first glance, Mr. Brocklehurst seems to be the kinder of the two, the one that you would rather be in charge of the school, but when you actually look deeper, Miss Temple is far preferable to Mr. Brocklehurst. This shows the author's message that it is better to be honest and strict, than to pretend to be kind, or to only be kind to certain people. If money is your goal, and it is valued more than your morals, you will end up as a very evil and unliked person.
What does Mr. Brocklehurst’s analogy between the ill-prepared breakfast and the “sufferings of the primitive Christians…the torments of martyrs…the exhortations of our blessed Lord Himself” reveal about his character? How does this attitude contrast with that of Miss Temple to reveal the author’s social message?
Based on the limited views or interactions that I have had with Mr. Brocklehurst in this reading, he already seems like a hypocritical, self centered jerk, who is simply using the school as a way to seem like a better person and make money. His analogy concerning the breakfast versus the trials and tribulations of early Christians shows Mr. Brocklehurst as a smooth talking sleaze bag, since he is using religion as a way to justify his own ends. He tries to claim that forcing children to skip breakfast because the cook messed it up is comparable to being crucified for refusing to stop preaching what you believe in. This is absolutely wrong and immediately makes me dislike Mr. Brocklehurst as a person. It does not help my opinion of him when his lady friends arrive, all extravagantly dressed and very fashionable for the time period. I inferred that Mr. Brocklehurst was providing the clothes for these women, which makes him the ultimate hypocrite for preaching to Miss Temple about humility and sobriety. It also shows that he has plenty of money, more than enough to provide decent clothes or food to the children at the school so that they don't die, as opposed to fake hair curls for his wife so she can look fancy.
Mr. Brocklehurst puts on a false front of piety and charity, but in the end all he really cares about is himself. Miss Temple on the other hand, is strict but fair in the passage. She does not baby or pamper the students at the school, but at the same time she is not unfairly cruel to them either. This creates an interesting contrast in the passage. At first glance, Mr. Brocklehurst seems to be the kinder of the two, the one that you would rather be in charge of the school, but when you actually look deeper, Miss Temple is far preferable to Mr. Brocklehurst. This shows the author's message that it is better to be honest and strict, than to pretend to be kind, or to only be kind to certain people. If money is your goal, and it is valued more than your morals, you will end up as a very evil and unliked person.
Sunday, September 21, 2014
What's in a Name?
Blog Post 2
I like my name. Steven is a Greek name, that derives from the word for crown. It is a versatile name, I can be called Steve for a change if I wish. One of the things that I do not like about my name is that there are various spellings for it. I do not like that Stephen is another way to spell my name, because it messes people up and I always have to clarify. I have a similar problem with my last name as well. Most people want to spell my last name as Costello, instead of Kostello, which makes identification difficult. Whenever I am verifying my registration for something with a person I have to end up spelling out my first and last name, even though neither of them are very complicated. Even Blogger doesn't recognize Kostello as a word, but suggests Costello as a spelling change. Steven can also be a bit of a common name, which annoys me, especially if I don't like another person who is named Steven, because it feels like they are damaging my name and there is nothing I can do about it. Despite these difficulties, I would not change my first or last name if I was given the opportunity. My name feels like it fits me, and after everything I have gone through while named Steven Kostello, I feel that I would lose some of those experiences if I lost my name.
There have been numerous instances when I have been both an individual, as well as part of a greater whole. In any sort of sports team, you have to be part of a whole, and put the best interests of the group in front of your own. If you can either give several people on your team opportunities to score multiple points, or you can score one point, a good teammate will allow others to score the points for the better of the team. Some people have trouble swallowing their pride and allowing other people to score points. This is part of the dilemma of being both an individual as well as part of a greater whole.
I like my name. Steven is a Greek name, that derives from the word for crown. It is a versatile name, I can be called Steve for a change if I wish. One of the things that I do not like about my name is that there are various spellings for it. I do not like that Stephen is another way to spell my name, because it messes people up and I always have to clarify. I have a similar problem with my last name as well. Most people want to spell my last name as Costello, instead of Kostello, which makes identification difficult. Whenever I am verifying my registration for something with a person I have to end up spelling out my first and last name, even though neither of them are very complicated. Even Blogger doesn't recognize Kostello as a word, but suggests Costello as a spelling change. Steven can also be a bit of a common name, which annoys me, especially if I don't like another person who is named Steven, because it feels like they are damaging my name and there is nothing I can do about it. Despite these difficulties, I would not change my first or last name if I was given the opportunity. My name feels like it fits me, and after everything I have gone through while named Steven Kostello, I feel that I would lose some of those experiences if I lost my name.
There have been numerous instances when I have been both an individual, as well as part of a greater whole. In any sort of sports team, you have to be part of a whole, and put the best interests of the group in front of your own. If you can either give several people on your team opportunities to score multiple points, or you can score one point, a good teammate will allow others to score the points for the better of the team. Some people have trouble swallowing their pride and allowing other people to score points. This is part of the dilemma of being both an individual as well as part of a greater whole.
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Blog Post 1
Image @ http://photos.wingyounghuie.com/p709406511/h7960348f#h7960348f
People are generally thought of differently if they are an immigrant, as opposed to a natural born citizen, even if there is no reason for the difference in status. This is definitely an example of othering in real life, like in The Handmaid's Tale, how Handmaids are thought of differently because of the nature of their situation, rather than their personalities or actions. I think it is interesting that othering occurs at all, that people feel a need to exclude people no matter what situation or circumstances they are in. Exclusion occurs all throughout life, and can be found in many situations like bullying, job applications, group memberships, or even simply purchasing items at a store. The Handmaid's Tale illustrates people's need to exclude others well, from wives excluding handmaids from drinking at birth ceremonies, or Marthas not being allowed to go out shopping for the ingredients that they are going to cook with.
Overall, othering seems unavoidable. It occurs through all aspects and ages of our societies, and does very little good for anyone, if at all. If people just relaxed and let go of what they believed was absolutely right, the world could easily end up being a much happier and more peaceful place.
Steven Kostello
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)