Macbeth: Found

Wherefore could I not live a coward;

Infirm of purpose?

Yet this ingratitude;

Due more than Duncan can pay.

Thane of Glamis?

Thane of Cawdor?

No.

I shall be king.

But could it be without my stir?

'Twere best not to know myself.

This is a sorry sight;

A fatal vision:

A dagger I see before me.

Gouts of blood upon my hangman's hands.

'Tis done, I have done the deed.

This bloody business; the assassination

Look on't again I dare not.

Hark!

The bell; the knell, invites me.

Chance shall have me king.

these are a few of my favourite things ...

1. hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia
2. ineffable
3. flibbertigibbet
4. epitome
5. crapulence

Literary Devices of The Scarlet Letter

SYMBOLISM:

The title, The Scarlet Letter.

ALLUSION:

"pearl of great price" (ch. 6).

"...the kingdom of heaven is like a... man... Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it" (Matthew 13:45-46). 

ALLITERATION:

"separated from them by a series of six or seven generations" (ch. 2).

DRAMATIC IRONY:

“People say... that the Reverend Master Dimmesdale, her godly pastor, takes it very grievously to heart that such a scandal should have come upon his congregation” (ch. 2).

APPOSITION:

"It might be, that an Antinomian, a Quaker, or other heterodox religionist..." (ch.6).

SITUATIONAL IRONY:

The reader expects that Hester will stay in England because there, she was able to forget about all troubles she had back home, but instead, she chooses to return, and even willingly wears the scarlet letter once again.

VERBAL IRONY:

“Hester Prynne...If thou feelest it to be for thy soul’s peace...speak out the name of thy fellow-sinner and fellow-sufferer! Be not silent from any mistaken pity and tenderness for him" (ch. 4).

SIMILE:

"But it will calm the swell and heaving of thy passion, like oil thrown on the waves of a tempestuous sea" (ch. 4).

REPETITION:

"As at the waving of a magician’s wand, uprose a grisly phantom,—uprose a thousand phantoms" (ch. 11).

PARALELLISM:

"His intellectual gifts, his moral perceptions, his power of experiencing and communicating emotion" (ch. 11).


* I couldn't find my book, and used an online version, so there are no page numbers. *

Quotations: Window to Understanding Stories

       Quotes play an important role in stories. They not only show the main points of the story, but in many cases it also portrays the personalities of the many characters. When Pearl speaks to her mother, Hester, she states that “’[the sun] is afraid of something on [Hester’s] bosom. . . . [but she wears] nothing on [her] bosom yet!’” and even asks, “’Will it not come of its own accord, when I am a woman grown?’”(157). These quotes show how aware Pearl is of her surroundings, as she notices that people treat her mother strangely because of the scarlet “A” on her chest, which is shown through her metaphorical reference in the lack of sunshine. It also shows that she is very naïve, as she believes that she will also have an “A” on her chest when she gets older as well. This can also be seen, however, the author’s belief that when one gets older, they are inevitably going to sin, because Pearl knows that other women in the town do not have scarlet letters on displayed on their clothing. When Hester is finally free from everything, she realizes that “She had not known the weight, until she felt the freedom” from the scarlet letter (172). This shows how much pressure and stress society can place on an individual. Although Hester does not seem to let the people of the town get to her, when she is finally free of the mark, she finally realizes how big of an impact it had on her life. This can be seen in everyday life as well, as things that may not seem important or significant, they could actually greatly influence our thoughts and actions. One quote from the story I found especially true was the following: “No man, for any considerable period, can wear one face to himself, and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true” (183). Many people, like the minister, try to hide behind a mask when they are around others. Most of the time, this is to protect oneself, as the author is trying to say through the story. The minister cannot let other townspeople know it was him who had the affair with Hester throughout the story as it would affect his image and how others portrayed him. But we all know how hard it is to keep a front and pretend to be something you are not, and the minister definitely felt the difficulty. Sometimes it’s really hard to decide whether to put on a mask, in order to protect yourself, or to make yourself vulnerable by opening your true self for the world. Through many quotes in the story, the author reveals many struggles and truths about life through the main characters, Pearl, Hester and the minister, Mr. Dimmesdale.

Will I Be Pretty, Will I Be Rich?

            Twenty-five. The prime age of life. I often wonder what would life be like for me at that age. Just like the song "Que Sera Sera", I would often ask my mother: Will I be pretty? Will I be rich? I am actually still quite unclear of what exactly it is that I want to do. There are just too many possibilities; too many paths to choose from. It's all quite overwhelming.

             At the age of twenty-five, I see myself graduated from university, probably with a major in commerce. I would be an owner of a little café in downtown Vancouver called Mago, meaning magic. Ever since I was a little girl, I have had an enormous interest in cooking, especially making desserts. Something I especially enjoy making is tiramisu, and it would probably be the feature food at Mago. I would also utilize the skills that I have gained working at Starbucks, as well as the business skills I would’ve acquired in university, incorporating them into my own company.

            Another possibility would be going into forensics. I love solving mysteries and finding out the truth behind everything. CSI is also my favourite show on TV because the criminals, no matter how cunning, are always caught. There is so much crime in this world, and if I were to become a crime scene investigator, I would be able to do something about the unlawful the punishment they deserve. I would be able to bring the families of the victims closure.

            At the age of twenty-five, I’d hope to have achieved a lot in life, not only with my career, but I would also hope to have already been, or close to being married. I’ve always wanted to live in a small, cozy house, with two dogs, one Yorkshire terrier and one golden retriever, as well as my husband, or fiancée. I don’t ask for much in life, just the bare necessities, with enough for the occasional splurge here and there. I hope to become successful in whatever career I choose, and be able to make a living out of it. At twenty-five, I’d be happy, and successful.

The Scarlet Letter: Hester Prynne

        Not long after marrying young to an elderly husband, Hester Prynne was soon left alone in the New England village.  After waiting two years for her husband’s return, she finds herself caught in a romantic relationship with, surprisingly, a minister in the Puritan community, and even has an illegitimate child. Throughout the story, Hester maintains her sense of pride, regardless of all the humiliation and shame she suffers through. She is forced suffer the ignominy of wearing a scarlet letter “A”, for adulteress, embroidered on her dress, which alienates her from the rest of the community. Despite being labelled as a “malefactress” (48) and a “woman who has bought shame” (49) upon all the other women, even after being put on show for all too see her indignity, she is able to stand tall, and not let others get to her:

“Yet there were intervals when the whole scene…seemed to vanish from her eyes...Her mind, and especially her memory… kept bringing up…the most trifling and immaterial, passages of infancy and school-days, sports, childish quarrels, and the little domestic traits of her maiden years, came swarming back upon her…Possibly, it was an instinctive device of her spirit, to relieve itself…from the cruel weight and hardness of the reality” (53-54).

        

       Though others may see Hester Prynne as a sinner, someone unworthy of sympathizing, I truly admire her strength, and sympathize her current situation. I believe the act she committed was purely out of loneliness, considering she was away from her husband for two years. That being said, I don't think this makes her act completely excusable, but if this had been done by a man, would the consequences have been different?

Vancouver 2010 Olympics - Pride of Canadians Everywhere

       The Vancouver 2010 Olympics have truly been amazing; a once in a lifetime experience. I feel that I can speak for all Canadians in the fact that the Olympics truly make us proud to say we are a part of this magnificent country, Canada. On the night of the opening ceremony, I was watching it at home while discussing it with my friend. Though we both agreed that it was nowhere near as extravagant or exorbitant as the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the modesty and simplicity of Vancouver’s opening ceremony filled me with pride. Frankly, I didn’t even bother finishing the Beijing opening ceremony, because of how long and deliberate everything seemed to be. Canada didn’t need any special embellishments or trimmings; our awesomeness spoke for itself.

       I was walking towards the cauldron when it was announced that Canadian freestyle skier, Alexandre Bilodeau, had won the first gold medal on Canadian soil. The already boisterous crowd instantly went ecstatic as I saw a sea of Canadian flags rise up and blow in the wind. Heck, even I, a person who never really much cared for sports, felt a warming pride inside of me. I proud to be able to call myself a Canadian, proud to be living in this wonderful country I call home. Sure, we’re not getting first place right now, but I’m sure that in every Canadian’s heart, our Canadian athletes will always be number one. Each and every event, even those who are not rooting out loud are silently supporting our athletes. Canadians take pride in having great sportsmanship, and giving each and every game their best. Winning is not important. It is how the game is played.

Evolution of Language

       With the many technological advances that have made their way into our society, it is safe to say that they have truly revolutionized the way we, as humans, live our everyday lives. For example, the internet which is a database for information, as well as a channel for which the information is shared; and the cellphone, which helps us connect with one another quickly and efficiently. These inventions have helped make communication and the spread of information much more efficient. According to The Canberra Times of Australia, more and more university graduates are using text message abbreviations and slang in their essays. Therefore the problem of using slang and abbreviations is not due to the lack of education, but rather people wanting to speed up their life, even if it is just the difference of a few letters. But is this really such a negative thing? Language is something that is constantly changing. Although the English language is only around 1500 years old, it has changed at such a dramatic rate that even if we look at Shakespearean English, which is only less than four hundred years old, most people would find it extremely confusing and hard to understand. Therefore, even modern day "proper" English is not the same English that was spoken some 1500 years ago. Slang is part of the natural part of the evolution of language. The purpose of language is to communicate thoughts and ideas, and as long as all parties understand what is being conveyed, the purpose is fulfilled. That being said, overuse of slang and abbreviations is not good practice as it can make your message unclear or even mean the opposite of what you are trying to say. Slang and abbreviations should not be seen as degradation of the English, but as the natural evolution of language.

Opening Up to Change

    Change is a terrifying experience for most. Many fear the unknown others fear leaving the past behind. For me, it was both of these things. I remember very distinctly the time when I was seven, and was faced with the challenge of having to move to a different school.

         "We're moving to a brand new, very big house!" My mother had announced at the dinner table. I stopped chewing, not quite understanding what she meant. "Moving?" I asked, "Why are we moving? I don’t want to leave all my friends behind!" My sister complained along with me, but our attempts were futile. I stared at the worn, beige walls as a warm tear trickled down my cheek. Could this be happening? I ran to my room in a rush, almost slipping on the newly waxed oak hardwood floor. I slammed the door and buried my face in my pillow, telling myself that it was just a dream, and when I woke up, everything would be fine again. But deep down inside, I knew what was to come was, in fact, inevitable.

       The next couple of weeks were hell for me. Every day, I would arrive at school, eyes red, puffy and swollen from crying the night before. My friends were the only ones that brought comfort to my seven year old self because it felt like my world was falling apart.

       The day had finally arrived. I said goodbye to all my friends and my house. The familiar creak of the floor boards whenever I stepped over them, the white window seat where I would read every evening, the sweet smell of the flowers that grew outside of my window every spring, would all be lost forever.

       I walked out the door to meet my family when I saw my best friend Iris running towards my house. She came up to me, handed me a letter and said, "Read this whenever you miss us, and remember to come back to visit. I'll miss you so much." Tears filled both of our eyes and I gave her a final hug before getting into the car. Goodbye familiarity. Goodbye life as I knew it.

       When we finally arrived at the new house, I refused to go inside until my mom forcefully pulled me in. The smell of the newly painted walls filled my nostrils. I walked up to my room, and to my surprise, my dad had painted my room a bright, beautiful pink. "Just like your old room. right?" My dad smiled. I gave him a big hug, feeling a little better about the treachery to come tomorrow - school.

       The nest day I had to go to school. I got out of the car and walked into my new classroom. The chattering of the excited children filled the room. "Hey, it's a new girl!" Someone said as they pointed at me. The class fell silent as sixty, curious eyes turned to look at me. Sweat ran down my next as my face flushed tomato red. The teacher, Ms. Barstow, walked over to me with a warm, welcoming smile as she introduced me to the class. 

       My seat was beside a girl, Taylor, who instantly greeted me with a cheery smile. I smiled back but didn't say a word, as I had always been an extremely shy child. The rest of the class passed by slowly. Each second felt like minutes. Each minute felt like hours. Everyone was really friendly to me, trying to get me to talk, but I was too scared, and out of my element. I put up a wall between myself and everyone else because I was afraid: afraid to let others in; afraid to make myself vulnerable. I didn't want to make friends that I could lose again, and plus, they wouldn't be my old friends.

       Recess time came. I walked out alone, just as the November wind blew by, blowing the mitten I had been holding, out of my hand. It blew around the corner, and I chased after it. As I neared the corner, I saw Taylor, mitten in hand. She held out the mitten towards me and said, "Here you go." She smiled. "Do you want to play with us?" I pondered, then decided to go with her. Taylor made me feel wanted, and special. Slowly, I started to open up more each day. As the days went by, I met more people and made new friends. Although I missed my old friends, I knew this is where I belonged now, and I was welcomed and accepted.

       Through this experience, I learned that change is not always such a negative thing. Granted that it may seem like a very terrifying thing, but in reality, it is just a part of life. Sometimes, it is these changes that shape who we are, and holding onto the past will only leave us alone and miserable. Opening myself up to change has led me to new, lasting friendships, new experiences, and becoming a happier person overall. Heck, some of the friends that I had made back in that grade two classroom are still good friends of mine! This experience has taught me a valuable lesson in maturity and how to handle these inevitable changes that we will all experience sometime in life. Change is inevitable. Misery is a choice.