A Trailer

After watching the introduction to Hamlet I felt interested. Trailers are designed to capture the viewer’s attention and create an irresistible urge to see the movie that is being announced. More often than not I find myself not wanting to watch movies based on plays. It is a better idea to simply watch the play, maybe on video. After watching this preview I immediately wanted to watch the movie. Not only does it look like the producers and actors have been working on this for a long time but also the story seems intriguing. I shouldn’t be surprised that Shakespeare writes good plays, but I am. Even though I do not know that much about the play I am curious about Hamlets death. The preview was clear when his burial was taking place and it would be safe to assume he was killed. I guess I will soon find out.

An Interview With Mr. Chaucer

Oprah: Good evening ladies and gentlemen. There is no doubt that my guest today is one of the most talented diplomats, writers, poets, and philosophers that have ever been on the Oprah show. He is the author of the renowned Canterbury Tales and is called the Father of English literature. His use of vernacular Middle English rather than French or Latin distinguishes him from other writers of his time. It is my honor to present, Geoffrey Chaucer.

Chaucer:

Good evening to you all, my eager friends

A special time I am certain portends

Oprah: Mr. Chaucer, reading your works is certainly confusing. Would you care to tell us why you chose to write in Middle English?

Chaucer:

A foolish woman, you should already know,

The times I live in require it to be so.

Oprah: You’ve embarrassed me Mr. Chaucer. Your work has inspired many writers through the years. Please tell us what would you advise a young writer?

Chaucer:

I know I’ve inspired others to the quill,

But to suggest what others must and will,

Would be untoward and may cause to ponder,

All who feel there should forever be wonder.

The knight I based upon myself to be morose,

A character above all must be grandiose.

A single fellow against the evil sword,

All those who fight accept the sworn word of the lord.

Oprah: Thank you for your insight. I am happy to announce that Michael Jackson has gifted you his house, full of furniture and Mickey Mouse.

(Screams)

Chaucer:

Oh my kindest lady what shall I say to you?

To receive such a gift would set me askew.

For no more would I need to believe and see,

All else would fall short, ring false and disagree.

Oprah:

Mr. Chaucer, it has been a pleasure to have you here with us today. We hope you enjoy your new house and continue to write great literature.

Sad Life, Happy Death

As the reader continues The Road a change in the father and in the son becomes clear. They both want to stay alive but there is the question of what being alive means. The father follows a survival theory where he will do anything in order to continue his journey. As a father it might seem like the best decision, but the son constantly reminds the reader that maintaining the “fire” is very important. Children are always credited for their ability to stay alive morally and spiritually, in this case the boy was alive in a certain way and the father was alive in another. When the man steals the food from their camp the father does not hesitate to, probably, kill him. His son does not understand why that was necessary.

On his deathbed, the father realizes the importance of staying alive not only physically but also emotionally. It is what happened to his wife. She could live for longer period of time if she were not emotionally destroyed. When the end is near the adult realized that living unhappily is not worth the effort and emphasizes the importance of the heart: “You cant. You have to carry the fire. I don’t know how to. Yes you do. Is it real? The fire? Yes it is. Where is it? I don’t know where it is. Yes you do. It’s inside you. It was always there. I can see it.” (McCarthy, 3474) The happy ending might be proof that the boy’s good actions bring forth more help. Who knows if the father might have helped some of the people they encountered, what they might have received in return.

The Mixing Bowl

I am always surprised at the people who reread books on a regular basis. It is a skill, which requires a certain discipline that I have not acquired. When you watch a complicated movie for a second time you begin to understand a lot of the small details that make the piece great. This rule also applies to poems and short stories, when going over them wont take you a long period of time. Chung shares this same respect for re-readers when she mentions, “I admire people who reread books over and over again.” (Chung) We often focus on the literal side of a book the first time we read it, which is probably why the second time is so important. I ask myself the question of whether it is better to reread a book or read an entirely different piece of literature. Because I have never reread an entire book the answer to that question is obvious.

As we have studied, The Great Gatsby is full of symbolism. A very common element is the yellow car. The blog touches upon the importance of reaching you own conclusions. What you hear about a book will never be what the text is for you. Every different perspective will transform author into a classic. Chung has a specific idea of what the yellow car means: “The yellow car/mistaken identify device, upon which the story’s climax and resolution hinge, feels almost Hitchcockian in its nod to the murder-mystery mixup. Who’s driving which car and why convincingly fuels (literally) Gatsby’s inevitable demise, Tom and Daisy’s flight, and Nick’s final revulsion towards the excesses of Eastern privilege.” (Chung) After reading this interpretation I agree the teacher, although the car meant different things for me. What ends up happening is that everyone’s interpretation gets mixed together and every individual has to accept some and decline some.

Humanity: Ruthless

The novel is constantly expressing how selfish human beings are. The death of the boy’s mother is a pure act of altruism. She was not thinking of those she was leaving behind and the damage that her death would cause. McCarthy uses the strangers in the novel to represent the evil behind the human race. It is what makes humans the most dangerous species. People have such a large survival instinct that they will do anything to perpetuate their lives. The father and son are constantly mentioning, “This is what the good guys do. They keep trying. They don’t give up.” (McCarthy, 1690) which shows the reader what he believes to be the heroes behind the story.

The truth is that everyone is his or her own good guy. All the survivors are trying to stay alive and will resort to different methods in order to succeed. There is no right or wrong way of surviving and the people who live on decide what is moral or immoral. Darwin mentions this with the “survival of the fittest” theory. Unfortunately that theory means that being nice will not count. All that matters is staying alive. What the child and the man are doing is staying alive while maintaining what little humanity they have within them.

Humanity: Ruthless

The novel is constantly expressing how selfish human beings are. The death of the boy’s mother is a pure act of altruism. She was not thinking of those she was leaving behind and the damage that her death would cause. McCarthy uses the strangers in the novel to represent the evil behind the human race. It is what makes humans the most dangerous species. People have such a large survival instinct that they will do anything to perpetuate their lives. The father and son are constantly mentioning, “This is what the good guys do. They keep trying. They don’t give up.” (McCarthy, 1690) which shows the reader what he believes to be the heroes behind the story.

The truth is that everyone is his or her own good guy. All the survivors are trying to stay alive and will resort to different methods in order to succeed. There is no right or wrong way of surviving and the people who live on decide what is moral or immoral. Darwin mentions this with the “survival of the fittest” theory. Unfortunately that theory means that being nice will not count. All that matters is staying alive. What the child and the man are doing is staying alive while maintaining what little humanity they have within them.

Perspective

McCarthy is able to sum up what being a human means. About a week ago I was asked, in my Catholic Confirmation class, what being a person meant. The question seems broad subjective to each persons opinion. After reading another section of The Road I feel as if I have been shown a good definition. The boy is constantly asking the father whether or no they are the “good guys” this question is similar to the one I received in class. Every person will have a different impression of what being good means. In movies, being good usually means being beautiful, strong, and full of moral accuracy. The father is clear when answering:

“Because we’re the good guys.

Yes.

And we’re carrying the fire. Yes.

Okay.” (McCarthy, 1588)

The image depicted by McCarthy of the good guys is very different from the ones you would normally find.

Most books represent the author’s point of view about a certain topic. In this case we can see McCarthy’s impression of the world when he mentions: “By day the dead impaled on spikes along the road. What had they done? He thought that in the history of the world it might even be that there was more punishment than crime but he took small comfort from it.” (McCarthy, 383) The gray and sad world that the reader travels through might be an exaggeration of human greed. Every man has resorted to cannibalism and the few that haven’t appear to be the good guys. Everything else does not matter. It proves that perspective determines your way of life.

'The Book of Eli' Trailer 2 HD

The Good And The Bad

The Road, which reminds me of The Book of Elli (movie), is a typical story of a nuclear holocaust. The Book of Elli is extremely similar to the book. Not only are the survivors fighting against each other for food but the characters in both stories live as scavengers. Elli is the owner of the last bible on earth and it becomes his mission to keep it safe. The importance that this gives the church can also be seen in the way the father talks to God: “He raised his face to the paling day. Are you there? He whispered. Will I see you at the last? Have you a neck by which to throttle you? Have you a heart? Damn you eternally have you a soul? Oh god, he whispered. Oh God.” (McCarthy, 113) This almighty being is always there for you in the good times and in the bad. It appears as if most people call him and hate him when they are not doing well. Elli tells the viewer that the importance of the Bible is not God himself but the power it gives people. Hope is gained from the church and in a world where humans have annihilated each other hope is very valuable.

As I read on and take a journey with the father and Child I realized that the narration is not always linear. Dreams are very important not only to the character but to the reader. The past is what keeps the man alive “And the dreams so rich in color. How else would death call you?” (McCarthy, 231) it appears as if when there is a good dream it means death is coming. The dreams “so rich in color” might be referring to the light that shined before the destruction and the mood of the dream. It is a good dream and it means death calls you. The past is what he is looking for and brief glimpses of it can only mean death.

A Proud Sinner

The Pardoner’s Tale is a depiction of what Chaucer felt for the Church. The Pardoner who is supposed to be everything but a sinner is explicit and proud of the fact that he is able to fool everyone. In the prologue you get a feel of how corrupt the pardoner is. On the other hand the Tale is a criticism of those who sin. There is no doubt that the pardoner criticizes the men that were drunk and suffered from gluttony, drunkenness, gambling, and bad words.

It is ironic how a man that is supposed to be part of the church and is so proud of the fact that he is a sinner. Not only is this irony funny, but it is a criticism of the Church’s supposed messengers.

Adult Entertainment

The Raven, like many other poems and books, has been turned into an entertaining children’s film. The Simpsons educates the viewer by including such poems. This case is not isolated, many children’s movies have started basing scenes on classic literature or art. Adults might get the hints, but children still love the movies. A children’s movie can become entertaining and appealing to a wide range of age groups. The BBC article: How do you make children's films appeal to adults? talks about specific examples.

The Silver Rule

In The Wife of Bath's Tale, the reader is shown and taught about a great rule: The way you approach things determines how they appear. When the knight accepted his wife’s appearance he was able to see her true beauty. A happy ending concluded the tale, which proves how important it is to look at the glass half full. The reappearance of a knight and his marriage to the old lady might be a union between Chaucer’s depiction of low class and high class. It might be the combination of the Knights tale and the Millers tale.

Women: Controversial

After I finished reading the prologue I could only think of two things. The first was how “This is a long preamble of a tale!"” (The Wife of Bath’s Prologue, 831). The prologue is a tale in its self and makes me wonder why Chaucer decided to call this a prologue and not a tale. I was also impressed at how Chaucer gave women such an important role in this section. During the time period women who acted in such an unfaithful way were not respected. The prologue gives women the power over men with a certain ambiguity. As I mentioned in my previous blog the reason why Chaucer might have done this is to attract readers. Because he creates a controversial text people will feel attracted to reading it. He also relates to a set of audiences that includes gender and class.

The Profit

The way Chaucer juxtaposes the knights tale with the millers tale might be part of his plan to capture a wide set of audiences. Because he is representing two very different social classes, his text will appeal to a wide range of readers. The Millers tale is made up of characters that, unlike a knight, are fat and rude. As this excerpt proves the folk that make up this tale are part of a lower social class. The effect this has on the reader is either laughter or indignation. In order to prevent this king of reaction Chaucer is clear when expressing that readers who are offended easily should skip to the next tale.

“3120 The Millere, that for dronken was al pale,

The Miller, who for drunkenness was all pale,

3121 So that unnethe upon his hors he sat,

So that he hardly sat upon his horse,

3122 He nolde avalen neither hood ne hat,

He would not doff neither hood nor hat,

3123 Ne abyde no man for his curteisie,

Nor give preference to any man out of courtesy,

3124 But in Pilates voys he gan to crie,

But in Pilate's voice he began to cry,

3125 And swoor, "By armes, and by blood and bones,

And swore, "By (Christ's) arms, and by blood and bones,

3126 I kan a noble tale for the nones,

I know a noble tale for this occasion,

3127 With which I wol now quite the Knyghtes tale."

With which I will now requite the Knight's tale."

3128 Oure Hooste saugh that he was dronke of ale,

Our Host saw that he was drunk on ale,

3129 And seyde, "Abyd, Robyn, my leeve brother;

And said, "Wait, Robin, my dear brother;

3130 Som bettre man shal telle us first another.

Some better man shall first tell us another.

3131 Abyd, and lat us werken thriftily."

Wait, and let us act properly."” (The Millers Tale)

I have come to the conclusion that Chaucer is merely trying to make a profit when writing these two very different stories. The knight’s tale appeals to the high-class reader that enjoys the typical, censored, writing. On the other hand, the Millers tale appeals to those who act like the Miller and feel as part of his class. There has not been a clear depiction of Chaucer’s favorite story, which leads me to the conclusion that each story is made in order to sell.