Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (post 6)

The entire climax and resolution is packed into the last fifteen pages of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Susipcious characters are explained, and Gawain's virtues and faults are brought fully into the light. The Green Knight has already attempted to chop Gawain's head off once, but as Gawain flinched both agree that it is only fair that he has another chance. This time, the Knight hesitates before Gawain's neck. After Gawain asks him why he does not strike, and calls him a coward for not being able to take another man's life, the green knight replies, "... since you speak so grandly/ there'll be no more shilly-shallying, I shall shatter you/ right now" (2302-2304). The sh sounds in "shilly-shallying" and "shall shatter" so the anger of the Green Knight. However, it also seems like he is less sure of his resolve to chop off Gawain's head, because sh is not a particularly hard or angry sound. This sound makes it seem like he's being a bit tricky and is not really angry at all.

Sure enough, The Green knight changes his mind. On his final stroke, his axe barely grazes the side of Gawain's neck. Then he explains to Gawain what has happened. He and the lord who hosted Gawain are one and the same (he learned magic from a powerful sorceress). He explains that the "magical belt" Gawain is wearing was made by his wife, and was not magical at all. He instructed his wife to woo Gawain to test his virtues, and to give him the belt as a message to him not to kill Gawain if Gawain proved good enough. As it is, the Green Knight can only find one imperfection in Gawain. The Knight (who reveals his name to be Morgan le Fay) tells Gawain, "But a little thing more--it was loyalty that you lacked:/ not because you're wicked, or a womanizer, or worse,/ but you loved your own life; so I blame you less" (2366-2368). This quote is very true: no matter how virtuous, kind-hearted and compassionate humans may be, we are all basically self-centered creatures whose primal instinct is survival. If we take the Green Knight to symbolize nature, this quote helps support the theme that humans will fight against nature unless nature cooperates. This is a sad thing, because nature hardly ever cooperates exactly with human plans and this causes us to destroy the enviornmnet. In the end, Gawain rides off to Camelot and arrives safely back to the court of Arthur (though without a woman, becuase he is now convinced that women bring about the downfall of men).

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (post 5)

In the first half of the last section of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Gawain sets off to look for the green chapel in order to find the Green Knight and fulfill his vow. Sir Gawain is resolute in his promise to fulfill his vow, despite several people begging him to save himself. He rides into a valley, and comes across a strange-looking knoll that he suspects might be the Green Chapel. Gawain scoffs, "'Green Church?' chunters the knight./ 'More like the devil's lair'" (2185-2186). Gawain is scoffing at this green hill where the knight supposedly prays. This shows how Gawain is ignorant of the danger that he could be facing. He also doesn't understand this knight at all, so he cannot begin to understand the knight's reasoning. This is one example of one of the reasons cultures class: both sides do not make an effort to understand the other's reasoning.

Gawain finds the Green Knight, and listens to the Green Knight sharpening his new axe. He and the Green Knight talk, and then Gawain bends over to let the Green Knight take a swing at his neck. However, just before the blow falls he flinches. The poet writes, "...and sensing its sharpness, Gawain shrank at the shoulders" (2267). Despite seeming to be so chivalrous, Gawain still fliches away from death. This shows how, despite being "the perfect knight," he still has his faults. This is true of everyone. It also reinforces the old adage that "no one is perfect." Gawain then promises the knight that he will not flinch again, and the end half section ends with the Green Knight raising his axe once again.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (post 4)

In the second half of the third section of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Sir Gawain continues to be boringly angelic. It essentially continues in the same manner as the first part of the section: the lord continues to bring Gawain his spoils after each day of hunting, and Gawain sleeps, entertains the ladies of the court and resists the lord's wife's advances. The lord's hunting of a wild boar, with the difficulty of killing the boar emphasized and the lord's triumph explained in detail. The lady of the castle continues her affections, and Gawain keeps telling himself that he shouldn't fall for her. However, he does have one small moment when his goody-two-shoes facade slips. The poet writes, "In a worthy style he welcomes the woman/ and seeing her so lovely and alluringly dressed,/ every feature so faultless, her complextion so fine,/ a passionate heat takes hold of his heart" (1759-1762). However much he tells himself that he should not be involved with her, he still finds her attractive. This one tiny slip-up brings up a point the poet trys to make throughout the story: no matter how perfect or sinless someone may seem, they always have enought animal instinct left that they can never be completely free from sin. In this section, it is also suggested that Gawain is more gullible than he appears. The mistress of the castle gives him what she claims is a magical sash that will prevent the wearer from dying. However, considering her past attempts to win Gawain's love, whether this claim is true or not comes under suspicion. The lady speaks, "For the body which is bound within this green belt,/ as long as it is buckled robustly about him,/ will be safe against those who seek to strike him,/ and all the slyness on earth wouldn't see him slain" (1851-1854). On one hand, as this is a story set in the time of King Arthur, a magic belt seems like it could completely real; on the other the lady's history of embellishing the truth to get Gawain on her side could have progressed into her lying outright. It also seems likely that she could be in league with someone, possibly the Green Knight. If that is so, she might want to give him false confidence so he will do something stupid. This brings up another theme of the peom: the difference between truth and lies. Is the Green Knight real? Does the lord of the castle sincerely want to help Gawain? The rest of the poem will tell.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (post 3)

The first half of the third section of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight begins with Gawain still staying with the mysterious lord who has granted him shelter. The lord and Gawain have made a pact where they give each other whatever they have gained at the end of the day. The lord continues to go hunting, and every day he brings back massive piles of game for Gawain. In fact, the poet goes to extra pains to emphasize the effort the lord (who is never mentioned by name) goes to hunt. The poet writes, "So as the morning was lifting its lamp to the land/ his lordship and his huntsmen were high on horseback" (1137-1138). This use of personification shows how early the lord is going out to hunt. Even though deer are more active during the dawn hours than they are in the hot afternoon, the lord would have to get up especially early to go to mass, eat and prepare to ride out. The lord also seems suspicious because while he does this, Gawain essentially spends his days sleeping and eating at the castle.

While he is at the castle, and the lord is out hunting, the mistress of the castle, who is in true knights-in-shining armor spirit astoundingly beautiful, spends her time trying to tempt Gawain into having an affair with her. However Gawain is keeping aloofly noble, wittingly refusing her advances. However, one is struck by the number of times Gawain swears featly to people: King Arthur, the knight of the Green Chapel, the lord of the castle and his wife (who is not mentioned by name either). This makes it seem like Gawain will be tied in knots when the interests of those parties conflict. Gawain tells the lady, "But I'm proud of the price you would pay from your purse,/ and will swear to serve you as my sovereign forever./ Let Christ now know Gawain is your knight" (1277-1279). The consonance in this quote foreshadows what may be a major theme in the poem: money. Since it seems like the main conflict is humans fighting against nature, the "p"s in "price,""pay" and "purse" all have to do with money, and show how human greed for money causes them to disregard the enviornment.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (post 2)

The second section of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight begins as Gawain sets off from Camelot to seek the Knight of the Green Chapel. Before he leaves, he is presented with many gifts by the court of King Arthur. He is also given an "inspection" by the knights of Camelot, to see if he was fit enough to go on his quest. The poet writes:

First he was deemed flawless in his five senses;

and secondly his five fingers were never at fault;

and thirdly his faith was founded in the five wounds

...the fortitude he found in the five joys

...the fifth set of five which I have heard the knight followed" (640-643, 646, 651)

The repetition of the word "five," which is repeated several other times in this passage, ensures that the reader will notice the importance of the number five. It seems like the number will become important later in the book. The knight faces many perils on his journey to find the green knight, and he spends a while wandering around. On his way, people pity him, lamenting, "A pity, by Christ,/ if a lord so noble should lose his life./ To find his equal would be far from easy./ Cleverer to have acted with caution and care" (674-677). The consonance in this quote shows how well respected Gawain is by giving it a choppy, disjoined tone. This suggests that people are crying to see him ride to what they believe is certain death.

Gawain continues riding, and he eventually finds the castle of a lord who welcomes him and gives him a home for the Christmas celebrations. However, this knight seems rather fishy. His castle is so exquisite that the poet expends extra effort to gush over the luciousness of the castle. The poet writes, "They take him between them and talk as they walk/ to a hearth full of heat, and hurriedly ask/ for specially spiced cakes, which are speedily fetched" (977-979). The assonance gives this passage a very smooth flavor, like decadent chocolate and warm caramel. It gives the reader a very warm feeling, and makes it seem like Gawain is relaxing a bit too much for someone who is on a quest for his death. The main reason this lord seems fishy, though, is that he makes Gawain promise to give him anything he gains from fighting the Green Knight, and in return Gawain will get anything the lord hunts and kills. Gawain, of course, agrees, and it makes his innocence and willingness to trust even more obvious when compared with this shady character.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (post 1)

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is an epic poem. It was originally written sometime around 1400, and nothing is known about the author. Simon Armitage has translated it from its ancient form to more modern language. The first section (chapter?) of the poem introduces both Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. It is Christmastime at Camelot and all the knights, including Arthur's nephew Sir Gawain, are entertaining themselves with feasting and dancing. During one feast, a gigantic man, who is entirely green except for his red eyes, rides into Camelot and announces that he has a challenge. He offers his battle axe to anyone who will be willing to take one swing at him with it. In exchange, the man (who introduces himself the knight of the Green Chapel) will hunt down the challenger will take the same free swing in a year and a day. Sir Gawain takes up this challenge and beheads the giant. Of course, the giant doesn't go that easily. He promplty gets up, picks up his own severed head and rides off. Naturally, all the lords and ladies in the hall are absolutely dumbstruck.

Poetically, Armitage's translation is very fun to read. I caught myself reading it to the tune of "They're Coming to Take Me Away," sung by Napoleon XIV. There is also a lot of alliteration and consonance. The poet introduces the story, "I'll tell it as it's told in the town where it trips from the tongue" (31-32). It makes for quite and interesting read. Besides making it interesting, the alliteration helps to emphasize the parts that the poet wanted to emphasize, such as the knight of the Green Chapel's excessive greenness. The knight is described as being "entirely emerald green" (150). This emphasize's the knight's strangeness. It also helps to highlight what seems to be an already obvious theme in the poem: the struggle between humans and nature. This theme

is particularly resonant at the point in history we are now, when we will face in the near future and are facing many difficult choices between human developement and preserving the environment. Alliteration is also used to explain some of Gawain's qualities. The poet writes, "For I find it unfitting, as my fellow knights would,/ when a deed of such daring is dangled before us/...I am weakest of your warriors and feeblest of wit;/ loss of my life would be grieved the least" (348-349, 354-355). This shows how much Gawain considers others: he knows that if no one takes the challenge, the reputation of the Round Table would be damaged, and he offers his life as a replacement for the life of Arthur.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Trans. Simon Armitage. New York: Norton, 2008.

Elizabeth II (post 6)

The final 50 pages of Monarch: The Life and Reign of Elizabeth II are disappointingly uninteresting. For the most part the focus extensively on common knowledge. Lacey spends about 40 pages detailing the preparations for Diana's funeral. These 35 pages pretty boring... if you wanted to learn about the Queen's reaction to Diana's death, watching The Queen is a much more entertaining and equally informative way to learn about it. I was actually pretty surprised at how accurate the movie was. Unfortunately, Lacey only spends about ten pages detailing the Queen's life from the aftermath of Diana's death to the end of 2001 (the book was published in 2002). These 10 pages can be summed up in a single sentence: the Queen became increasingly comfortable showing emotion and more ready to take risks. Of the Queen's reaction to the ceremony honoring the victims of September 11, Lacey writes, "She bit hard on her lower lip, and as she came out of the cathedral, there were tears in her eyes... tears for America..." (403). This is a stark contrast to even the church service the day after Diana's death, when the entire royal family was reported to have "concealed their feelings with such grim success that all of them-- from the normally outgoing queen mother down to the two princes, William and Harry

-- might have been been taken for wooden and uncaring" (361). Clearly, the Queen's attitude had shifted. In some ways, it is a good thing, because it reflects what the country wants. In other ways, it also symbolizes a tearing apart of ancient traditions, when the monarch was aloof and separated from their people. Overall, this was an excellent book about the modern royal family but a half-hearted book about Elizabeth II.

Elizabeth II (post 5)

The next section of this biography of Queen Elizabeth II focuses on the time between Prince Charles' marriage and Diana's death. Once again, it follows mainly Charles and Diana's relationship and the queen's reaction to their problems. Lacey's book gives a vary detailed description of Charles' and Diana's marriage problems, their separation and divorce and Diana's death. However, on interesting story about the queen involves a man, Michael Fagan, who broke into Buckingham palace, entered the Queen's bedroom, sat down on her bed and started to talk to her. The Queen pressed her alarm button several times, but got no response. It took two phone calls to get the police to come and arrest the intruder. During all this, the Queen kept Fagan talking and remained calm. This section also talks about the Queen's parenting style-- she let her children make their own mistakes, and she would not block embarrassing press coverage when they get themselves into it (such as when Prince Edward agreed to appear on a game show on which people made themselves look stupid playing games). There is also a chapter about the "annus horriblis" (328). During 1992, Diana and Charles announced their formal separation and Winsdor palace burned down.
The Queen, during all this, did not hesitate to make changes that needed to be made in a new era. She surrendered the monarch's traditional tax exemption and authorized many changes in the way the palace and royal staff were run. According to Lacey, "'Fine, Let's go,' ran one account of her reaction. 'Stop mucking around'" (329). However, she remained stubbornly opinionated on the way she conducted herself in public. Lacey writes that, " her regal instincts revived when an over-officious producer tried to hurry the family out onto the balcolny to fit inside the BBC's scheduled time slot. Elizabeth II declined to be hurried, and the seconds ticked down to the deadline" (342). Clearly, Elizabeth still possessed the stubborness for which she is famous.

Elizabeth II (post 4)

The next section of Monarch: The Life and Reign of Elizabeth II focuses on the time between Elizabeth II's Coronation and a few years after her Silver Jubilee. Once again, there is a lot more information on Prince Margaret (the Queen's sister), Prince Philip (the Queen's husband) and Prince Charles (the Queen's eldest child) than there is about the Queen herself. Lacey recounts Princess Margaret's marital woes in greater detail than is relevant. The Queen's marriage was not entirely smooth either. Loud arguments were heard by staff from behind closed doors. The issue of the names of the royal children was a major point of tension. Prince Philip was angry that he was not allowed to give his name to his children (because of royal precedent, the Queen's children were expected to take the name of Winsdor), and this caused significant dissent not only between the Queen and Philip, but also between Philip and the government. Prince Charles went through several years of both less-than-serious girlfriends and potential wives (several of which he proposed to and was turned down) before his parent's encouragement prompted him to choose Diana Spencer as his bride. During this time, he met, fell in love with and had two affairs with Camilla Parker Bowles.

Underneath all the superfluous details, the Queen is constantly mentioned as being stoic, though more willing to show emotion in public, upright and regal. Her Coronation and Silver Jubilee both spurred revivals in public feelings for the monarchy, with huge crowds turning out to witness the events, both on television and in person. Lacey also discusses her reaction to the rising costs of keeping the monarchy afloat. When rising inflation and increased unemployment made it more and more difficult for the government to pay the costs of the monarchy, she is reported to have dipped into her own pocket to help shoulder the costs. Another issue that the Queen shows her willingness to compromise is the continued rising importance of the press. Lacey recounts how the Queen was "chief opponent of television," (183). However, she allowed most of the Coronation to be televised, though with restrictions on the types of shots and which moments could not be filmed (183). This shows her growing sense of the new era of media that she would rule in, and the increasing sense of ownership the people had over their monarch. Though sometimes Elizabeth would be reluctant to make the changes a new era demanded, her newly-created willingness to connect with the people shows her acceptance change. In the late 1960s, she even allowed the BBC to construct a documentary, called Royal Family, about (who would've guessed?) the royal family. However, she also demonstrated that she would not be pushed around or be afraid of the people if she did not want to be. When she was the victim of an assassination attempt on June 13, 1981, she "steadied her horse Burmese and rode on to arrive at her birthday parade on the stroke of eleven" (285). Britain was entering a new era where the Queen belonged to her people, and Elizabeth's challenge was to belong to her people while still being who she was.

Elizabeth II (post 3)

The third section of Monarch: The Life and Reign of Elizabeth II focuses on her growth from a child to a young adult. At the beginning of the section, her father has just been crowned George VI, making her next in line for the crown. Her education is begun under Sir Henry Marten, who taught her history and government most of all. Her textbooks contain notes in the margins on how to rule (even if her powers are mostly ceremonial) effectively. She wrote, "If the King had a strong will, and a good capacity for business, he ruled the witan [an early form of Parliament]; if not, the witan was the prevailing power in the State" (117). She also, however, recognized that the monarchs did not have much power in the modern world, and the era before elected ministers was noted as "The days before responsible government" (117). She chose to rule responsibly and sensibly, putting her people before herself. This was in contrast to her uncle's reign, which was dominated by a powerful and overdone sense of progress and a decision to abdicate for personal reasons. Elizabeth would argue that no personal reason is a good enough excuse.
Elizabeth continues to grow older, and she makes her debut as a public figure. Most of her work was charity- related, though she did take an Army class in auto mechanics to help the war effort. She met, and fell in love with at age 13, her third cousin Philip, whom she would marry. Another burst of character shows through the cloud of public facade in her response to her former governess, who wanted to publish a tell-all series of articles for the Ladies' HOme Journal. When Princess Elizabeth asked her not to give information to any journalists, she softened the blow by offering her former governess another job. She chooses gentle firmness over her sister Margaret's disdain. Elizabeth's first two children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne, are born. For all her public kindness, Elizabeth does not seem to have been a particularly maternal figure. She left her young son and newborn daughter with their grandparents for Christmas in 1950, as she had done to Charles in 1949. However, when her father died in 1952, she stayed in England to prepare for her new role as sovereign.

Traitor or Whistle-blower?

The difference between a treasonous act and an act that will benefit society does not have a textbook answer. The film On the Waterfront explores that divide. Terry, a character in the movie who does not work for the tyrannical mob but is friendly with them, must decide whether to testify against the mob for the death of a boy who was pushed off the roof. While he is trying to decide, many people give him advice on how to act. His brother Charlie is part of the mob and believes that Terry's first duty is to his friends. By friends, he means the mob. Charlie thinks that you are ratting on your friends when you testify against them. On the other hand, the local priest knows that what the mob does is wrong and encourages Terry to testify against them. He knows that silence will not help the workers who cannot earn decent wages because of the mob, and so the mob needs to be taken down. The priest thinks that you are not committing treason when you are acting against your friends and family for the greater good of the society. In the end, Terry decides that he must end the injustice even if he might have to sacrifice himself to do so.
I believe that a traitor is only someone who does something for selfish reasons. If they are doing it for the greater good of the society, then it is excusable. Even if you are selling out on your friends, if it will drastically improve the community's well-being then it is alright. For example, if you have a friend that you know has been stealing iPods, then it would be much better to turn them in and keep them from continuing t0 anger those who they have stolen from and progressing to worse thefts. You are genuinely helping society. However, if you simply want to see you friend get into trouble, then you are ratting your friend out.

Family or Society?

In the novel All My Sons by Arthur Miller, many characters are faced with the choice of putting family or society first. The most obvious example of a character who places family over society is Joe Keller, who ships out faulty airplane parts instead of losing his contract with the Air Force. He says to his son, "The paper, it was all over the front page, twenty-one went down, it was too late.... Chris, I did it for you, it was a chance and I took it for you" (70). Joe wants to pass his business down to his son, and he uses that as a justification for causing the deaths of 21 pilots flying in airplanes with his faulty parts in them. Joe feels like this is a reasonable excuse, because he simply wants his son to have a better life than he did what parent could be blamed for that? Chris, on the other hand, feels much differently. He resents his father's actions and does not want a business that came at the expense of 21 lives. Chris rages, "What is that, the world-- the business? What the hell do you mean, you did it for me? Don't you have a country? Don't you live in the world? What the hell are you? You're not even an animal, no animal kills his own, what are you?" (70). Chris fought in the war and he knows how devastating 21 deaths can be, so he feels like a better life for him is by no means a justification for the lives that ended.
Personally, I feel that there are very few instances when family can be placed before society. In little matters, it may be all right, such as choosing to open the door for your grandmother rather than the other little old lady. However, it is also important to remember that every statistic, every stranger, and every person in the world has someone who cares about them, just like you do. If a family member and a stranger were trapped on a sinking ship, and you only had room in the lifeboat for one, then the stranger's family would feel just as much grief for the loss of their loved one as you would for your relative. This conundrum also causes many debated issues in modern politics, with questions such as: Higher taxes or fewer programs for the poor? Should senior citizens have to pay taxes for the school system? and whether or not day care should be provided by the government. Even if it may prevent your family from going on your annual vacation, remember that someone who is in need would be grateful for the sacrifice you have made. I believe that society should be placed before family in most circumstances, and this will help everyone live a better life.

Miller, Arthur. All My Sons. New York: Penguin, 2000.

Elizabeth II (post 2)

The rest of Part 1 of the book Monarch: The Life and Reign of Elizabeth II has actually disappointingly little to do with the Queen herself. Mainly, it highlights the generations leading up to Elizabeth: King Edward VII and King George V, Elizabeth II's grandfather. The second part of the book continues with the generations more closely related to the current Queen, with her Uncle David who would become King Edward VIII and her father who would be King George VI. Elizabeth is not introduced until chapeter 5. She is described as the perfect little child, always well behaved and more like an adult than a kid. However, she does manage to blend some youthful spirit into an upbringing that groomed her for royal etiquette. It is said she replied, as a nine-year-old, to the Archbishop of Canterbury's request that she take a walk with him: "Yes, very much... But please do not tell me anything more about God. I know all about him already" (94). Other accounts show that the young Princess Elizabeth loved to be the center of attention and was "'almost as pleased' to see her mother as if the duchess had been 'quite a large crowd'" (83). I think that it is very interesting that someone who grew up always being revered and cherished did not become a snobbish, spoiled little girl. In fact, she has done the opposite and learned from her Uncle David's self-centered abdication. A family friend said, "'Her Uncle let the side down, he put personal pleasure before his duties. She has deliberately done the reverse'" (104). This highlights her decision to become not a celebrity, but a servant of her country.

Lacey, Robert. Monarch:The Life and Reign of Elizabeth II. New York: The Free Press, 2002.

Elizabeth II

The prologue and first chapter of the book Monarch: The Life and Reign of Elizabeth II does not begin with her childhood. Rather, it focuses on two on the most marked events of the royal family in the last 200 years: Queen Victoria's reign and the death of Princess Diana. The book uses the Queen's reaction to the Princess's death to highlight Elizabeth the II's character: she posses a great deal of common sense, has an unbreakable determination and is brutally honest. The book uses not her quotes, which could be biased by humility, but the quotes of those close to her. A private secretary of the Queen's told Lacey that "'The Queen has ruthless common sense... If you can explain clearly why something has to be done, and she agrees, that's the end of the matter'" (8). This was particularly referring to her decision to fly a flag at half mast above Buckingham Palace, something that had not been done for anyone ever before and which the Queen was against. This reminded me of John Grady's preference for an older, simpler, and quiter life. She does not believe in saying things that she does not believe. Lacey writes of an incident where the Queen displayed her overwhelming honesty. Lacey writes, "' I am very pleased to be in Kingston today,' the draft [of the speach] confidentely started. The young queen crossed out the word 'very.' 'I will be pleased to be in Kingston,' she explained. 'But I will not be very pleased" (9). The Queen refuses to say anything she does not mean from her heart. This refusal to be someone else's puppet, even in small matters like the word very, reminds me of Blevin's refusal to show off to impress John Grady an Rawlins. Queen Elizabeth is also compared to Queen Victoria, in her will, strength and reign.

Lacey, Robert. Monarch:The Life and Reign of Elizabeth II. New York: The Free Press, 2002.

Peppers

Un-Pretty Pictures

This article is about an upcoming photography exhibit that focuses on the lives of the homeless in Houston, Texas. Ben Tecumseh DeSoto has worked as a photojournalist for the Houston Chronicle and now works as a photographer. Two people, Judy Pruitt and Ben White, are the main subjects of the exhibit. The exhibit tells their stories, as well as pointing out problems that homeless people have in getting government assistance. The curator of the exhibit explains that it is difficult to get healthcare if you are homeless, and one of the photographer's aims was to point out failures of the institutions that are supposed to provide aid. DeSoto says that his goal was to point out that homelessness is not a problem, but merely a symptom of a deeper problem. This article reminds us that photographs are one of the most expressive mediums for inspiring sympathy and encouraging people to take action to end a problem. Pictures are not always of flowers and pretty things that we want to see. They also show us the flaws and sadness that we need to see in order to make the world a better place for everyone. This idea reminded me of the photograph of the three WWII soldiers lying dead on a beach. They say that pictures are worth a thousand words, and that is certianly true.

Britt, Douglas. "A Photographer's View of the Homeless." Cron.com. 22 Oct 2008. *

*Not sure why the link won't show up.

The Seafarer

The Seafarer is an ancient English poem. It is told from the voice of a lonely sailor, suffering the hardships and trails of the sea. However, he willingly suffers, knowing that a blessed eternal life is a much better existence than a happy, material life on earth. The poem tells about the uselessness of material goods, because you cannot take them with you into the afterlife. The author thinks that it is much better to live a frugal and humble life on earth to ensure a peaceful afterlife than to live a gluttonous life and be doomed to hell. This reminded me of Siddhartha's journey. Siddhartha amasses great wealth, but is unhappy with himself. He feels shallow and finds his new habits disgusting, so much that he almost commits suicide. Instead, he decides to give up his possessions and focus on gaining spiritual comfort rather than living in material luxury. The idea of a humble life seems to parallel many religious ideals, from Buddhism to Christianity.

"The Seafarer." Beowulf and Other Old English Poems. Trans. Constance B. Hieatt. 2nd Ed. New York: Bantam Books, 1988. 117-20.

A Journey to Recovery

Three weeks after hurricane Ike stormed over the Bolivar Peninsula in Texas, at least 34 people are unaccounted for, and many are presumed dead. Relatives of those missing have been calling shelters and hospitals, frantically trying to locate their loved ones. Some of those relatives received calls from victims who were trapped by the floods, saying goodbye. As horrible as it must be to receive a call from a relative who knows they are going to die, there are also miraculous stories of survival. People survived by floating on coolers, debris or anything else they could find. However, the journey to recovery will be long and difficult, both physically and emotionally. Physically, people have lost homes and valued property. Emotionally, the scars are much deeper. Some relatives listened as victims called to tell them they were going to drown, and others were expecting evacuees who never arrived. A grandson listened to his grandmother describe how the floods had washed the neighbors' houses away, then experienced the silence when his grandmother's cell phone went dead. A boyfriend watched as his girlfriend was swept out to sea. These traumatic experiences will take years and much pain to heal. Much like Odysseus, who struggles to get home, these people will take a long time to return to normal. Likewise, those whose relatives are still missing may never find out their loved one's fate, like Penelope has no idea when or if Odysseus will return home. The journey back to normalcy will be long and difficult, and some might never achieve it.

"Three Weeks After Storm, a Grim Task of Recovery." The New York Times 5 Oct. 2008: A20.

*Does anyone know how to get an underline? I have tried both ctrl u and copying it from Word, but neither seems to work.

Homer: Feminist or Sexist?

The women in Homer's The Odyssey, like women today, are as different from each other as a rose is from a corpse flower. However, in Greek society as Homer depicts it, most of the women seem to be undervalued. There are women with strong characters; however they are not always shown in the best light. Calypso, through her beauty and power, traps Odysseus on her island though he longs to sail home. By keeping Odysseus on her island, she shows that she is a powerful and capable woman. Yet, Homer casts her as the hated jail warden when she does not release him. Circe is another woman who is called evil by Homer. In fact, evil is the very word Homer uses when he describes the meeting between Odysseus and Circe. Circe is a sorceress, so she is not incapable, but she too is shown as devious. In The Odyssey, many women who are independent and intelligent are portrayed as deceitful.
If strong women are, in Homer's mind, evil, then meek and obedient women must be good. Penelope, Odysseus' wife, stays at home and remains faithful to Odysseus. She takes care of running the palace and cries her heart out for her lost husband. When Telemachus returns from his journey, she tells him of the pain she feels for missing Odysseus and her disgust at the suitors. She is often described as loyal, good, and faithful, showing that Homer thought of her as a good wife and proper woman. When Telemachus arrives in Sparta to see Menelaus, Helen is shown doing normal household chores: spinning and greeting guests. Homer grants her the gifts of beauty and great standing. Homer's commending of weak women and less than flattering depiction of strong ones show that his view of women was traditional and sexist.

The world of Homer's The Iliad is greatly different from ours today. Technology, attitudes, and society have changed vastly in the thousand plus years between today and the Trojan War. However, the need for wise, sane leaders has always and will always remain constant. In The Iliad, there are two types of leaders. Commanders of armies, such as Agamemnon and Hector, need to be fierce in battle and be able to rouse troops; they need to know as much as they can about the opposing armies. Others provide wisdom and advice, such as Nestor and Priam. Their fighting days are past, and their job is to advise the new commanders by drawing from their experience.
The crisis of the Trojan war seems insignificant when compared with the problems our world faces today. Multiple wars, climate change, a crashing economy and extreme poverty are all problems that should be dealt with. An article in Newsweek magazine offers insight on the kind of leader the US needs to elect in the upcoming election. The author writes that the US needs a leader who has a defined view of the world and will learn from the mistakes and triumphs of history. In other words, leaders should be judged on whether they use the past to solve current problems rather than how much the know about the world. The US needs a Nestor, rather than an Agamemnon, to deal with the problems that America faces.
On the whole, this article presents a unique and interesting view of the presidential election. While it does neglect to talk about those problems that are simply too new to have a precedent, such as the ethical issue of electronic spying or improved weapons, it does a fairly good job of outlining what can be learned from history and why the current administration has failed to correct or alleviate some of these problems. Overall, it was a worthwhile read.

Works Cited

Haass, Richard N. "Who Cares Where Spain Is?" Newsweek 29 Sept. 2008: 39.