Part 1
As the novel comes to a close, we find the suitors being lead by Hermes, passed the gates of Hades where they are greeted by the ghosts of Argememnon and Achilles. They all explain how they have met their untimely deaths. Both Argememnon and Achilles explain that they were killed on Trojan soil during the war. The suitors explain they were killed by Odysseus, but they blame Penelope for their deaths because of her inability to choose a new husband. While they continue to put the blame on her, Argememnon explains to them that she is not as bad compared to his wife, Clytemnestra. " ...what outrage she committed. killing the man she married once!-- yes, and the song men sing of her will ring with loathing" (24.220-221). I think this comparison is made because although the suitors claim it is because of her that caused their deaths, she had this difficulty because she had found the love of her life in Odysseus and she could not let that go. " ...what a fine, faithful wife you won! What good sense resided in your Penelope-- how well Icarius' daughter remembered you, Odysseus, the man she married once!" (24.212-215). Penelope is considered a faithful wife because although it seemed as if Odysseus was never going to return, she is hesitant about choosing a new husband, while Clytemnestra went against the values the typical wife contained.
GQ #1: Under what conditions would you consider revenge as acceptable?
Part 2
Simile: "...and the ghosts trailed after with high thin cries as bats cry in the depths of a dark haunted cavern..." (24.6-7). As the suitors were entering the gates of Hades, they were screaming as loud as bats, indicating their fears when they are introduced to the underworld.
Journey to the Underworld: As the suitors are killed off, they are all sent into the underworld because of their wicked behavior, "..where the dead, the burnt-out wraiths of mortals, make their home" (24.14). Because of this, they are forever living in pain and suffering in "..the dank moldering paths.." (24.11).
Introduction: The main theme in the intro tends to be Hades and how it affects the people who enter for the first time. When the suitors enter, they are screaming as loud as bats in a dark cave, and war heroes like Argememnon and Achilles appear before them. Homer describes Hades as dark and dank, "passed the White Rock and the Sun's Western Gates and past the Land of Dreams.." (24.13-14). This makes me believe that it is reason to believe to abandon all hope when one enters the gates of Hades.
Translator's Notes: "To urge Odysseus to sail" (24.126)- Odysseus is unwilling to leave his wife and son in order to fight the Torjans. He summoned a plow, harnessed with an ox, and drove it, sowing salt in the furrows, in protest of going to Troy. Palamedes put Odysseus' son in the path of the plow, causing him to stop. When I first read the line in the chapter, I did not think Odysseus, at first, tried to escape going to war against the Trojans, but after reading the translations, it caused me to question his bravery before he became a war hero.
GQ #2: If you were being sent off to a distant land to fight a war, how would you react?
Part 3
One of the major themes that continues to play a role in the story is the role of gods/goddesses. While Odysseus is at Laertes' house, the families of the fallen suitors decide to avenge their deaths by trying to attack Odysseus. In order to avoid more bloodshed, Athena intervenes, disguised as Mentor, killing Eupithes, the father of Antinous. She then makes the Ithacans forget about the murders of their sons, and have them recognize Odysseus as King of Ithaca.
While reading this, it reminded me of a scene in the movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. In the scene, Hermione is beginning to go on the mission to destroy the horcroxes in order to kill Voldemort. Before she leaves her home for good, she casts a spell on her parents in order for them to forget about her completely, so that they will not be saddened if she ends up getting killed.
GQ #3: Do you think that the days of Odysseus as a hero are over or will they continue on in Ithaca?
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Anything Is Possible
One of my favorite quotes of all time comes from someone named Tommy Lasorda about determination. He said, "The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person's determination." This quote then got me thinking about the determination of women back in the early 20th century when they were fighting for their right to be heard. They were confident enough to organize the Women's Rights Movement, and fight for their right to vote, and to hold jobs, just like the men in society. Because of this determination, great strides have been made for women, and I believe there will be more to come, whether it be for women's safety, or for equal pay.
This quote reminded me of the novel, A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen because if it weren't for Nora's drive and determination to move Torvold to the south, he would have most likely died from his infection. She was constantly trying to come up with the money from doing work like copying, or cutting a deal with Krogstad in order to get the rest of the money. Nora, suprisingly, was happy to do this kind of work because it made her feel less inferior, and more needed. She wanted to experience what it was like to do the work of a man sometimes, and she grew fond of that kind of work. Unfortunately, she also experienced the downside of a man's work when it came time to repay Krogstad. He was threatening to file a lawsuit because of some errors that she had put down on the paperwork. When Torvold found out, he was furious that she would do this kind of work behind his back, making her realize that she needed to become more independent. After the issue was settled, she decides to leave Torvold and her children so that she can find more opportunites to engage in a male dominated society. Because she possesses this drive and determination, I feel she will be able to succeed and be able to accomplish anything.
Quote by Tommy Lasorda
http://quotelicious.com/quotes/determination-quotes.php
This quote reminded me of the novel, A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen because if it weren't for Nora's drive and determination to move Torvold to the south, he would have most likely died from his infection. She was constantly trying to come up with the money from doing work like copying, or cutting a deal with Krogstad in order to get the rest of the money. Nora, suprisingly, was happy to do this kind of work because it made her feel less inferior, and more needed. She wanted to experience what it was like to do the work of a man sometimes, and she grew fond of that kind of work. Unfortunately, she also experienced the downside of a man's work when it came time to repay Krogstad. He was threatening to file a lawsuit because of some errors that she had put down on the paperwork. When Torvold found out, he was furious that she would do this kind of work behind his back, making her realize that she needed to become more independent. After the issue was settled, she decides to leave Torvold and her children so that she can find more opportunites to engage in a male dominated society. Because she possesses this drive and determination, I feel she will be able to succeed and be able to accomplish anything.
Quote by Tommy Lasorda
http://quotelicious.com/quotes/determination-quotes.php
Still an Illusion
While reading the Washington Post one day, I came across an opinions column that read, For Women in America, Equality is Still an Illusion. Naturally, I was curious as to what kind of thoughts this author had to say about the issue. Upon reading the article, the author, a female, addressed issues like women are still getting harassed and are still making less money than males, even though they will be doing the same amount of work. She argues that it is "an epidemic of sexism," in which many people are only fooling themselves when they claim that women have come a long way since the early 20th century. Women are still looked down upon from time to time, still being considered as the inferior gender.
In A Doll's House, by Henrik Ibsen, Nora is constantly being considered inferior throughout the novel. She is always being considered as the "little play doll" from both her husband, and from her father. She is always looking for ways to feel like she is worthy, whether it was raising some money by doing some copying when her husband fell ill, or making the decision to borrow money from Krogstad in order to save her husband's life. But even after she has accomplished these feats, once her husband gains his strength, she automatically goes back to her original role of being a mother/wife. Although I feel it is true that women are still considered inferior today, it is also evident that women have made great strides in order to get closer to the ultimate goal of equality in society. I feel Nora shows that determination that she is ready to be treated like an equal human being because even though she is risking so much, she is still willing to leave it all in order to be heard, and for independence.
For Women In America, Equality is Still an Illusion by Jessica Valenti
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/19/AR2010021902049.html
In A Doll's House, by Henrik Ibsen, Nora is constantly being considered inferior throughout the novel. She is always being considered as the "little play doll" from both her husband, and from her father. She is always looking for ways to feel like she is worthy, whether it was raising some money by doing some copying when her husband fell ill, or making the decision to borrow money from Krogstad in order to save her husband's life. But even after she has accomplished these feats, once her husband gains his strength, she automatically goes back to her original role of being a mother/wife. Although I feel it is true that women are still considered inferior today, it is also evident that women have made great strides in order to get closer to the ultimate goal of equality in society. I feel Nora shows that determination that she is ready to be treated like an equal human being because even though she is risking so much, she is still willing to leave it all in order to be heard, and for independence.
For Women In America, Equality is Still an Illusion by Jessica Valenti
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/19/AR2010021902049.html
Helmer Marriage: Just a Dream?
Normally, I like to listen to songs once in a while so that they don't become repetitive and boring, but one song, Just a Dream, by Nelly, is one of those rare songs that I find myself playing over and over again. The rhythm and the story in this particular song is what keeps me coming back for more. He sings about a girl, who he has fallen in love with, who has broken his heart, and already moved on. He felt as if there was something between them that would make her stay and be together forever, but this relationship was only a fantasy to him. The feelings that he was having were not real to begin with. His love has moved on, but he is still feeling the heart break.
This is similar to Nora and Torvold's marriage in A Doll's House, by Henrik Ibsen. Torvold is led to believe that his marriage is strong, almost indistructable. He just got promoted at his job, and he has two lovely children with Nora. On the inside though, she is starting to crumble, feeling she is trapped, not able to have the connection to her husband as she has hoped to develop through their marriage. As the story develops, Torvold continues to see the marriage in a fantasy-like state of mind, where he cannot see any problems between him and his wife. Nora, on the other hand, is no longer happy with her family and seeks independence by leaving them after Krogstad asks for his letter back, and apologizing for the events that had taken place. She realizes that they will never have that connection that she has been hoping for, and she needs to move on. Torvold was only living a dream-like marriage, while Nora was never happy with her husband. I feel Torvold is a lot like Nelly in this song because they both felt there was something more to their relationships. Especially when it comes to the lines in Nelly's song, "I was thinkin about her, thinkin about me. Thinkin about us, what we gonna be? Open my eyes, yeah; it was only just a dream." They felt they would be happy and live their lives with the ones they loved. Unfortunately, their imaginations got in the way of reality, causing them to feel heart break in the end.
Just A Dream by Nelly
http://www.directlyrics.com/nelly-just-a-dream-lyrics.html
This is similar to Nora and Torvold's marriage in A Doll's House, by Henrik Ibsen. Torvold is led to believe that his marriage is strong, almost indistructable. He just got promoted at his job, and he has two lovely children with Nora. On the inside though, she is starting to crumble, feeling she is trapped, not able to have the connection to her husband as she has hoped to develop through their marriage. As the story develops, Torvold continues to see the marriage in a fantasy-like state of mind, where he cannot see any problems between him and his wife. Nora, on the other hand, is no longer happy with her family and seeks independence by leaving them after Krogstad asks for his letter back, and apologizing for the events that had taken place. She realizes that they will never have that connection that she has been hoping for, and she needs to move on. Torvold was only living a dream-like marriage, while Nora was never happy with her husband. I feel Torvold is a lot like Nelly in this song because they both felt there was something more to their relationships. Especially when it comes to the lines in Nelly's song, "I was thinkin about her, thinkin about me. Thinkin about us, what we gonna be? Open my eyes, yeah; it was only just a dream." They felt they would be happy and live their lives with the ones they loved. Unfortunately, their imaginations got in the way of reality, causing them to feel heart break in the end.
Just A Dream by Nelly
http://www.directlyrics.com/nelly-just-a-dream-lyrics.html
Until I Fall
Last night, I was on the internet looking for quotes that I would be able to use for a project, when I came across a poem called Until I Fall, by HaliJo Webster. I decided to read the poem because I was having one of those procastination moments, and I just wanted to focus on something else for the time being. As I started reading, I noticed it had a relation with the story A Doll's House, by Henrik Ibsen. The poem expresses the feeling of oppression towards women in the early 20th century, and how it seems almost impossible for the voice of a female to be heard. No one can hear these women as they scream for their right to be heard as humans. "Not till they fall," as Webster writes, will they finally be heard, but when will that happen? In Ibsen's classic, Nora too is trying to be heard by her husband, Torvold, but with little success. He treats her like his "little play doll," while she wants to become more masculine. For example, she wants to be able to eat as many macaroons as she wants, and be able to swear at Torvold. She acts this way because she too wants to be heard, but she cannot get through to Torvold. Her life has no meaning and no excitement, which is what she is looking for.
A few lines in this poem caught my attention, because I felt it related to a particular incident in the novel. Webster writes, "I shout and no one seems to hear... No one sees me. Not till I fall." Her "fall" occurs when Torvold finds out that Nora borrows money from Krogstad, a man Torvold is not on good terms with, and is threatening a lawsuit because of some errors that had occured in the paperwork. When the incident is settled, Torvold went from being furious with her, to acting as if nothing happened. Nora realizes she needs to become independent. She needs to leave her home and have a fresh start in order to be heard by other people. I feel she is brave for doing this because she is willing to leave everything behind in order to find herself and learn how to become independent. Because she left her husband and children, she is that much determined to find this voice she has wanted. She has grown as a person throughout the story and seems ready to take on the challenges of being alone.
Until I Fall by HaliJo Webster:
http://www.hjwebster.com/poetry/c-opression-women.html
A few lines in this poem caught my attention, because I felt it related to a particular incident in the novel. Webster writes, "I shout and no one seems to hear... No one sees me. Not till I fall." Her "fall" occurs when Torvold finds out that Nora borrows money from Krogstad, a man Torvold is not on good terms with, and is threatening a lawsuit because of some errors that had occured in the paperwork. When the incident is settled, Torvold went from being furious with her, to acting as if nothing happened. Nora realizes she needs to become independent. She needs to leave her home and have a fresh start in order to be heard by other people. I feel she is brave for doing this because she is willing to leave everything behind in order to find herself and learn how to become independent. Because she left her husband and children, she is that much determined to find this voice she has wanted. She has grown as a person throughout the story and seems ready to take on the challenges of being alone.
Until I Fall by HaliJo Webster:
http://www.hjwebster.com/poetry/c-opression-women.html
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