Macbeth Trailer

We present to you ... PIRATES OF DUNSINANE

Nightdreams

Come thick night, the future in the instant,
Stars hide your fires and under the blanket of the darkness,
He shall see his reflection; silver skin laced with golden blood.
And the natural ruby of his cheeks will hide and vanish.
'Incarnadine', his hands say smiling, 'drown us in blood',
And with his bloody and invisible hand, nimbly, sweetly,
As sharp as a spur, take the keen knife that shall forbid a man to live.
So lay it to thy heart and farewell.
Tears shall drown and bathe him in reeking wounds,
The instruments of darkness shall damn his mind's construction
And summon him to the dunnest smoke of hell.
And upon the corner of the moon there hangs a vaporous drop,
That shows his sightless eyes and grieves his heart.
Now, nature seems dead, and wicked dreams do abuse.
But the west glimmers with streaks of day,
In the wink of an eye, by your leave, shadows, depart.

Wealth, fortune, a husband of great fame were all that ever crossed my mind.  I thought: “This man will change my miserable life into a glorious one, no longer will I have to suffer those days where food was scarce, never again will I be hungry”.  Then I met him, a proud, strong man with the sternest look a man could ever present.  Even his gaze brought chills running down my back.  I was afraid.  Yet I carelessly forgot time after time now that I am the wife of such a powerful man, I had to put my immature thoughts behind or be punished by him.  Looking back now, I admit; his arguments were reasonable, especially that time, remember, when we spent the entire day at your hut pleating our hair into those beautiful braids that we tried so hard to perfect.  What had I done wrong you ask?  I had neglected my duties as a wife and mother and I swear, I will never ever forget that look on his face when he spoke to me.  Eyes aflame, nose flared and teeth bared, the burning face of a tiger.  And yes it hurt, every part of my body ached, ached with fear of such a ferocious man but only now do I realize how much he aided me in the growth as an adult.  However, I am afraid that my dear daughter, Obiageli has adopted such traits from me.  Her childish playfulness is scorned as her lovely sister Ezinma serves as the ideal daughter in our household.  My poor Obiageli is always second to her, I see the way her father looks at her with dull eyes but when he sees Ezinma, his eyes come alive with life.  But I understand that no matter how much I wish my daughter to be like Ezinma, they are still two different people and only my daughter will be so much like myself.  And as much as I fear I am stealing away Obiageli’s youth, I have learned from Okonkwo that one day she will have to grow up anyways; it is never too early to become a woman, only too late, for I do not wish for her to ache with the same dull pain as I have when I was younger.

--

Written from Ojiugo's (the third wife) point of view.  She is talking to her friend after she came back from the seven years of exile.

A Change in Opinion

Previously, I had thought that Okonkwo was not a hero; that is up until I learned the definition of a tragic hero.  A tragic hero has a flaw that they are born with and unaware of.  They also are responsible for the actions that lead to their downfall.  However Things Fall Apart takes place in modern day, so Okonkwo can be classified as a modern tragic hero which can be contrasted from a classic tragic hero because modern heroes are usually ordinary people and do not necessarily receive the audience's sympathy that a classic hero would.
All these points led to the change in my opinion.  Before I had thought Okonkwo was not a hero because he seemed cowardly, always running away from his problems and not very likable due to his strict nature.  However now that I recognize Okonkwo's major flaw, the fear of laziness and losing manliness, the qualities that his father possessed I believe he is as a tragic hero.  His fear causes him to strive to achieve perfection at all costs which leads to Okonkwo making decisions that indirectly cause his death. 

The Truth About Human Adaptation

   The central conflict in The Handmaid's Tale is the strict theocratic society in Gilead.  This conflict applies to multiple characters because all the rules and expectations that this newly formed government outline pose as a problem for everyone; from the powerful men to the lower class servants, not one being can adapt to the new lifestyle.  For the main protagonist in the novel, Offred, her position has a handmaid requires her to perform duties that degrade her as a woman leading to an internal conflict as she is unsure if going against the rules laid out by the government is what she wants to do.  For example, when she is asked by the Wife to bed with another man in hopes of impregnating her, Offred is afraid that someone will discover this secret however in the end, Offred gives in to love and passion.  Ironically, the Commander played a primary role in creating this new society but even he cannot adapt to the vast changes.  He lacks companionship so he resorts to inviting Offred to accompany him in his study and goes as far as smuggling her into an underground club.  Every woman never wishes to see their husband developing a relationship with another woman and this holds true for Serena Joy, the Commander's Wife.  What adds oil to the fire is that Offred is necessary for her to 'have' a child so Serena must tolerate her under all circumstances.  Serena seems to desperately try to rid their family of Offred by asking the handmaid to bed with another man so that she may become pregnant and leave their home sooner.

   The conflict is resolved by the characters in a variety of ways because each one has an unique problem.  However it is stated in the ending that the theocratic government comes to a downfall after many years.  Also it can be implied that it becomes like our modern society once again as the ending takes place in the future and it is in the form of an university lecture.  Offred also escapes from the Commander's household but it is unknown whether the Eye's van she was last seen stepping into was indeed a fake one containing members of the rebellion organization, Mayday, as Nick, the driver she has developed affections for, claims or the actual government coming to arrest her for her wrongdoings.

   The strict theocratic government reminds me of the government in "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr..  In both cases, the citizens are forced to adapt to what we view as a ridiculous lifestyle that is for the good of the people.  In "Harrison Bergeron", there are controls that are intended to make everyone equal, whether in intelligence, physical appearance or in talent, no one can be better than the other.

Define ; Post-colonialism

    Any form of change results in some sort of consequence and this holds true for the race to establish colonies in other areas of the world by European nations in the late fifteenth to twentieth century.  Many years of maintaining and attempts to assimilate the indigenous people of the newly established colonies changed the Europeans' views on them.  The natives of the foreign lands were inferior, uncivilized and evil in the eyes of the Europeans, creating tension between the two groups.  However, in order to be accepted by the Europeans, many of the indigenous population began to change; a movement to become just like the Europeans by abandoning their way of life, for example, their cultural ways and appearance.  This is what post-colonialism is, the study of the changes and results that colonialism brought to our modern society.

    An example from contemporary media is the photo below from the March 2009 edition of Vogue Italia.  Where the black woman who is wearing a simple light blue dress with an apron is playing the role of the maid, inferior to the white woman who is in a fancy dress complimented with a elaborate set of jewelery.  Their difference in attire and height point to the fact that the white woman is more beautiful and stands above the black woman in social status and wealth even though both are the same, humans; the only real difference is the colour of their skin.

Vagaries of Fashion, Vogue Italia | March 2009

Rainy Days are Better than Sunny Days

    Who says that a sunny day is better than a day of pouring rain?  If you agree, watch out, be cautious when standing near tall, thin metal objects; you might get struck by lightning.  Now, imagine the scorching sun burning down on Earth and painting every vast land of green to a dull brown; the only trace of the former existence of a river or a lake would be a ditch decorated with cracks.  No plants would grow and carcasses of starved animals would soon litter the Earth, us, humans included.  Not a single remnant of life would serve as a memory for our extraterrestrial visitors.  The distinct pitter-patter of rain is soothing like a sports car flying by.  Although some people prefer a hot, sticky, sunny day to the cool, calming rain, Britney Spears does not think so, that is why you should not either.  Besides, a rainy day is a lot better than a cloudless sunny day because the droplets of water from the sky that scatter onto the sidewalk are better than the bright flame in the sky that brings heat to Earth.  Also, sun rays give you skin cancer, that is why it should be scorned, while the rain can bring life to the plants on Earth.  And if you are not a fan of sunny days, then you must love it when it rains!

The Handmaid of Fred

    In The Handmaid's Tale, written by Margaret Atwood, the main protagonist is Offred.  Living in the theocratic society of Gilead where the pregnancy rate is steadily decreasing, she plays the role of a handmaid; a woman who bears children for the upper class society.  As a handmaid, she is obliged to don a shapeless robe "the colour of blood" and a headdress of "white wings" to prevent others from glimpsing her face (8).

   Caught between the overturn of the democratic government, her life changes drastically from a society where women are free to roam where they desire and speak their mind to being "a rat in a maze [that] is free to go anywhere, as long as it stays inside the maze" and fearing every conversation is being overheard by the government's many eyes and ears (155).  Before the totalitarian government took over, she was involved in a relationship with Luke, and had a young daughter.  But when the family could no longer withstand the ridiculous new laws, they decided to sneak across the border to a neighboring country not caught up in this turmoil.  Unfortunately, they are caught and separated; since then, Offred has not seen them.   She was then imprisoned and trained to be a handmaid because her daughter confirms that she is one of the few who are able to become fertile.  All handmaids are then sent to different elite households, in her case, the family of Commander Fred (handmaids are named after their Commander) and his wife, Serena Joy. 

    Motivation is a rare emotion when your future is one straight path already laid out for you.  For Offred, it is very much the same, however her spirit is not yet broken by the strict society.  She is motivated by a sliver of hope that she might see her best friend, Moira, again because Moira was also sent to be a handmaid but was only shipped off after several attempts to escape.  But most of the time, Offred is like most other handmaids, they desire the afterlife: "Death is a beautiful woman, with wings and one breast almost bare; or is that Victory?" (156).  However, the government is aware of their wishes so every object that they may harm themselves with is put out of reach. 

   In an imperfect society, many problems arise; Offred is faced with both internal and external conflicts.  Although Commanders and their handmaids should not develop any special relationship, Offred's Commander is different, when his wife is out Offred is invited into his study where they play Scrabble and end her visit with a requested tender farewell kiss.  Before the secret meetings, every time she is required to participate in the Ceremony where the Commander and she bed, in hopes of impregnating her, she feels emotionless as though she is only fulfilling a duty.  Afterward, "he occupies space, he is more than a shadow" but she doesn't "love the Commander...he's only of interest to [her]" which makes her confused and wondering if what she is doing is right because their arrangements are "prohibited by law and punishable by amputation" (153)(145).  An external conflict that Offred is involved in is with Serena Joy, the Commander's Wife. As a wife and a woman, Serena is envious of Offred's ability to become fertile and perhaps land a place in her husband's heart and because of this "she doesn't speak to [Offred], unless can't avoid it" (13). But though the handmaid is "a reproach to her", she accepts the fact that Offred is "a necessity" (13).

Just Missing You

If only I had known,

That your special day would be the last,

The last that you would appear in my chapter of life,

Maybe I would have allowed

Those swirling emotions locked in chains

In my heart consume me and

Let them be known to you.

Those last words

Would have ended with 'forever';

A farewell so unexpected and clever,

For a blade grew within me.

A metallic glint of  resentment,

Passed through my heart.

Once. Twice. And again.

But if I could turn back time,

Undoubtedly I would spend the time with you 

The same;

As we had before.

Every last minute

To the very end,

Even if it means good-bye.

-                     Happy Valentine's Day *

Staring into the Eyes of a Vegetarian Tiger

    Challenges are obstacles that appear everywhere on our road of life, whether it is a fluorescent yellow roadblock or a rock the size of your fist, these hurdles cause problems that make our life harder.  There are many different causes of these troubles, for example, lack of self-confidence due to previous failures, or running away from these issues like trying to find a side path that at first may seem empty of problems but only leads to a point of no return.  And sometimes, it is not a cliff or a ditch in the middle of the road but a reflection of yourself, the you who is standing there seems to radiate doubt, every time you try to walk past, doubt floods your mind and swallows up your reasoning, you can never get past.  The greatest challenge is yourself.  Personally, fear is one of the greatest challenges of all that I need to deal with every single day, whether it is a spider running loose in my house or forgetting to wake up for school, if not face immediately the spider might reappear or I might be punished for arriving late to class.  But one of the greatest challenges I had to face involved an elastic rope, a bridge, a plunge and of course, my fear of heights.

   "Hey.  Hey! Wake up, we're here!"

   I am knocked back into reality from the world where pencils can talk and books can ambush strangers.  Forcing my eyes open, sunlight streams in, momentarily blinding me with a sudden white light.  Slowly adjusting, I make out the azure sky painted on top of the green and brown forest.

   "Aaaaaaaagh!" someone screams.

   A sharp pain blooms from the top of my head as I bolt upright.

   "What was that?" I ask nervously.

   "Oh hey, you're up.  Welcome to Ambow, Washington!  Oh wait, I mean Amboy... Never mind, anyways we're finally here!"

   "Huh?" I stare back blankly at my cousin's glowing face.

   Ignoring my dull reply, she scrambles out of the car and skips over to my parents who are standing in line for tickets.  As I stride over, I slowly realize that not only is there a forest but also a bridge and on the bridge are people stepping off followed by a curdling scream.  Reality hits me like a wave that engulfs a surfer; we are going bungee jumping when my worst fear of all is heights.

   "Please Mom, Dad, I'm NOT doing that!" I plead pathetically.

   "Come on, we've already bought the tickets and your Dad and I are certainly NOT jumping off a bridge anytime soon."

   "Haha, what a chicken, won't even have some fun because she's afraid of heights!" my cousin teases.

   Anger and shame boil up inside of me, fists clenched I seethe: "Fine!  I'll go!"
   Regret floods me instantly as I try to hold back the tears that are welling up.

   "Click.  Click.  Click."

   Each click of the buckles on the harness seem like the second hand on a clock counting down to my dreaded jump.  My stomach seems to be dancing to a dissonant tune as it flips and turns violently.  Permanent holes are burning into the back of my head as other tourists watch curiously as a wash of red creeps up from the back of my neck and slowly dominates my face.  My palms are sticky with perspiration, my legs are trembling and despite the warm autumn currents gently flowing past there are chills running down my spine like ice-cold, ghostly fingers being dragged down my back.  I manage to inch my way onto the jumping point.  Peering down, I see a man the size of my fist waiting for my plunge.

   "Whenever you're ready."

   At that very moment, my legs decide to have a mind of their own and root themselves to the creaking wooden planks.  The rest of the world disappears from my senses.  Wind whistles a whining tune past my ears.  Adrenaline is pumping blood into my brain causing a constant thumping inside my head.  "Water!" my mouth screams as my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.  The trees seem sharper than before, the greens are more vibrant, the sun is blinding.  Blocking off all my senses, I step off the platform.

   "So this is what it feels like to be flying." is the first thought that comes to my mind.

   Peeking through the slits of my eyes I am mesmerized by the rush of browns, greens, and blues enveloping me.  A strong force blows back my hair, streaming it out behind me, there is nothing holding me, I am free, free to fly like a bird.  A brown and gray mess is growing in the corner of my vision.  Suddenly I realize that my fate is to die sprawled and bloody on the rocky surface.

   "This is your fault, I should have never listened to your stupid taunts." are the last words that enter my mind, or so I thought.

   "Twaaaaang."

   My eyes snap open as I fall back into my body when a sudden jolt runs through my body like an electric shock.  Tattered, brown hiking boots, baggy khaki jeans, a black jacket and a friendly face appear before me, all upside down.   Uncontrollable laughter escapes my lips as the maniacal sound bounces back from all four sides of the rocky cliffs filling the empty autumn breeze with my laughter.

   Although jumping off the bridge may seem like a very big challenge, the movements and actions required to do so are very simple, just merely moving both legs forwards would complete the jump.  The most difficult part of all is telling your legs to move in that manner when the whole time, your mind is screaming in denial and negative thoughts are filling every possible corner in your mind.  Our mind is what makes us unique and one-of-a-kind, makes us ourselves, that is why the greatest challenges we face are usually psychological and when conquered once, will never pose as an obstacle again.  Similarly if we look into the eyes of a tiger, who is a herbivore, the first thought that crosses your mind is most likely "Run!" even if you know through facts and reason that the tiger will not eat you.  It is our psychological fear, what we have been taught and our instinct that tell us to bolt out of the cage of the vegetarian tiger who will not harm us; that is why the greatest challenge is with ourselves.