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Please use--Diction: An Experience.

Tone/Mood Final Blog

            For many centuries playwrighters and actors alike have both struggled to disccover the true tones and moods that Shakeaspeare and other artists like him intended. Hamlet is a perfect example of how opposing interpretations of a single soliloquoy, line or word can result in a variety of different plays each driven by different perceptions. Take for instance Hamlet's first interaction with his ghostly father in Act 1. Some have this interaction driven by ghastly grief and shock coupled with uncontrollable anger. Others believe this to be a sincere father-son moment. Personally I believe the latter. Therefore I would employ a very sincere tone on behalf of King Hamlet, while Hamlet will take on the persona of a troubled son. Such interpretaions in tones and moods create numerous different ways of going about things. However, there are also many pieces of work where the tone and mood is exceedingly clear and permeates through every word in the play. Woodchucks is a prime example of how one learly knows that this author is going about his actions vehemently and coldly. No compassion is displayed for the woodchucks and instead violently charged words are consistently employed.  Thus the reader is directly involved in the poem and feels all the emotions the author is feeling. Tone gives the author a face and an opinion.

Diction: An Experience

           A poem's diction conveys the underlying emotions and persuasions of the author. It gives the reader a direct insight into the type of person the author is and  into what the author is experiencing, along with how the author is experiencing it. A cold and monotonous diction speaks to the same emotions of the author likewise a jovial and upbeat form of diction speaks to the happiness of said author. Moreover when one considers the poem Traveling through the Dark by William Stafford, one can clearly experience everything the author is going through simply by understanding the diction. Traveling through the Dark is about a man who while driving encounters a dead doe on the street. This doe was about to give birth but regrettably died in the middle of the road and in order to avoid more deaths the man is forced to push the deer off the cliff. Even from the title one can immediately tell the mood of this poem is somber and downcast. This is further exemplified by the slow and, at times, painful description of the narrators experience. He takes great lengths to describe the initial thought process he goes through; the fact that he must remove this dead doe from the street in order to avoid more deaths. Then the initial coldness he felt when he touched the dear and the lifelessness that seemed to permeate from the doe, "she was stiffened already, almost cold, I dragged her off, she was large in belly". From this the fragmented thought process of the narrator is made quite clear, especially through the prevalent use of commas to divide his thoughts. Further, from this form of diction, one can understand the immense emotional sorrow and regret the narrator must be experiencing. The next stanza delves even deeper to both the narrators actions and thoughts, "My fingers touching her side brought me the reason." This line reveals the out-of-body experience of the narrator as he personifies his fingers. And yet again the the prevalent commas are still evidently revealing his emotional instability, "her fawn lay there waiting, alive, still, never to be born". The author is clearly experiencing each moment separately and is attempting to absorb the magnitude of what he is going through. The diction of Traveling through the Dark puts the reader in the mind of author and lets us experience this death with him. Thus, a primary use of diction is the creation of an experience for the readers.

IMAGERY

When one does not have the luxury of preparing grandiose sets and using cutting-edge effects one must seek a more affordable means of conveying to the audience or readers the image that one is trying to make known. Moreover, out of necessity play-writers such as Shakespeare had to use figurative and descriptive speech at times in order to create an image for the audience that is not apart of the actual setting. therefore in this case language supplants setting. Take for instance Queen Gertrude's description of how Ophelia dies in Act 4 of Shakespeare's Hamlet. This is an excellent example of how an actual setting had been supplanted by descriptive and figurative language that created the image for reader/audience in the mind's eye. Ophelia uses a variety of different poetic tools to describe the horrific scene, ranging from personification to simple description. "There is a willow grows askant the brook/ That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream"(4.165-166). Here willow is personified for it represents the forsaken love that Ophelia is experiencing. The second line describes the scene of Ophelia's death through figurative phrases such as the "glassy stream". Gertrude also makes use of a variety of metaphors such as "mermaid-like" to further develop the image for the reader. Another example of imagery and figurative language being used to create a setting can be found in King Hamlets description of how he died. For though Shakespeare did not ever have an actual scene in a garden, the father's death by poison in the garden is in fact on of the most memorable settings in the entire play and is often referred to throughout the play.

POETIC SOUNDS

 As opposed to merely letting one's words sit plainly on a paper many poets have the ability to use the reader's hearing to add another level of depth and understanding. From this newly added depth the reader is allowed to explore the meaning of the poem through numerous avenues and draw conclusions that may have not otherwise been found. A prime example of this can be found in Shakespeare's Hamlet. When one initially goes through the first scene and reads over the dialogue and discourse of Hamlet and his dead father, one may simply believe that their is no further connection between the two than father and son. But as previously stated, the use of poetic sounds within any piece of writing adds a new layer of depth to every character involved. For if one were to read Hamlet's lines aloud along with those of his father, one can easily come to the conclusion that there is in fact a commonality between the two of them is deeper than the plot. The speech of the Hamlets' is revealed when one considers Shakespeare's masterful employment of poetic sounds. The numerous exclamations, flamboyant tones, and exaggerated expressions speaks directly to this idea of a separate speech that is distinctly of the Hamlets. Moreover, it is the careful understanding of poetic sounds that will allow one to realize the bond that goes beyond the words on the page.

The Prevalence of Theme

The theme of every piece of work is of the utmost importance. For without a stable and consistent theme the reader could easily stray away from the main idea or objective of the author. Whether the theme takes the form of a color or an emotion a proper theme allows an author to expand on numerous idas while still keeping the reader engaged and on-track. Moreover, a proper theme makes for an excellent read for everything seems to connect in a seamless way such as in Austen's Pride and Prejudice. The themes of the entire novel can be said to have emerged within the first few pages of Pride and Prejudice, during the conversation between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet. For they discussed such topics as marriage and social status, which are exceedingly prevalent throughout the rest of the novel. Moroever it is Austen's ability to set a theme with such efficiency and swiftness and then have that theme carry on through nearly every conversation in the rest of the novel that reveals her brilliance.Though Austen's use of theme is very masterful, Shakeaspeare's plays shine with exceptionality as each play explores numerous themes in a most didactic, emphatic, and purposeful manner. Take for instance, Hamlet's unforgettable scene with the skull of Yorick. Within his soliloquoy he contemplates the devasting effects of death which is of course a most prevalent theme throughout Hamlet. And there are numerous additional scenes just like this one where a simple speech can speak to the over-arching theme of the entire play. Moreover, Shakespearrean plays exhibit how characters can be effectivley used to introduce and carry themes throughout books of drama and fiction.

Setting is Everything in Shakespeare

         When one talks about setting there is no author or artist who cherishes it more than William Shakespeare. Every play is laden with lengthy and detailed introductions of time, place and even mood. One must only look so far as Hamlet to understand the importance of setting in a Shakespearean play. Every single act in Hamlet is initiated by quick statement of which characters are in the this act and where they all are. What is even more unique to Shakespearean plays is the way Shakespeare uses the characters to actually aid the audience in viewing the setting. For example, when Ophelia dies and Gertrude comes to tell Laertes, Claudius, and indirectly the audience of how she did die, she had to give a detailed soliloquy of where she was and everything that she was doing. It is this use of the characters to convey setting that sets Shakespearean plays apart.
           Austen also has her characters play apart in the setting of the play. For Austen uses her characters to reveal the cultural setting of the play, the setting which Elizabeth grapples with throughout the play. Take for instance the first few pages of the play. Mr and Mrs. Bennett converse on the numerous topics that their society is engrossed in i.e social status and marriage. The first ball can also be considered a employment of cultural setting through the conversation of the characters.   
          Essentially, the setting of the play can be revealed in numerous ways. It can be blatantly listed and stated or it can be implied through the characters. 

Character BLOG #2

      Though the plot setup and structure of each are much different, the main protagonists in Hamlet and Pride and Prejudice are actually quite similar. Their both seemingly the most educated characters in their respective roles. Hamlet is very philosphical and relfective and seems to understand the workings of the world better than his counterparts while Elizabeth also possess a sort of intellectual curiosity that puts her above hers sisters, mothers, and friends. But let me expand on the reflectiveness of both characters for I believe that this trait is clear demonstrated in both characters. When Elizabeth recieved the love letter from Darcy, she went into a deep period of reflection where she contemplated all her views and morals. Likewise when Hamlet witnessed an actor cry with a very real and sincere emotion he too contemplated his worth and on numerous occasion Hamlet relfected on such topics as suicide. However, in a drama such as Hamlet, the characters are used as tools to propel the ongoing themes of the story. In that, Hamlet is simply a a representaion of one's struggle between revenge and familial duty. While in a comedy such as Pride and Prejudice, the characters themselves are the subject of the story and the source of laughter. The long descreptions and dialogues between the characters creates the comedy for the reader. Moreover, characters in drama are more theme oriented while comdedic characters are more or less in and of themsleves.

PLOT BLOG #1

               Hamlet and Pride and Prejudice are two great plays that are nearly polar opposites. Therefore, there is a great deal that can be compared and contrasted between them.

              Firslty, Shakespeare goes about his exposition through a very indirect means. He never directly tells the audience who each character is and give a list of their traits; however, I believe the audience may have previously known all the players in the play through some sort of introductory pamphlet. But primarily Shakespeare employs an indirect means of describing the back story and the situation the characters are in through speeches such as that of King Claudius when he famously states, "with mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage....Taken to wife". From King Claudius' speech the audience learns of what he has previously done. This is in stark contrast to Austen's manner of introduction. As we all know, Austen is direct and economical in her way of introducing characters. The plot of Pride and Prejudice stems from the characters interaction with each other unlike Hamlet where the plot stems from past experiences. 

           Secondly, the rising and falling action is much more dynamic in Hamlet than in Pride and Prejudice. For in Hamlet it is clear that the rising action begins when Hamlet begins to comtemplate killing Claudius while Claudius and Laertes begin to contemplate killing Hamlet. Moreover it is very clear when this play reaches its climax; the death of Polonius and this extends on to the death of Hamlet. This is then followed by a few lines for falling action and then the denouement. This is in deep contrast to Pride and Prejudice where the rising action and climax are much more subtle and could be easily skipped by the reader.  Moreover, Austen's structure simply is not as rigid and as clear cut as Shakespeare. For the flow of a story like Austen's is constanlty shifting with the introduction of new characters and issues.

Hamlet Essay Revisions...

The main issue that I found when going over my essay again was the plethora of grammatical errors. From numerous sentence fragments to misspelled words, my essay could have been improved if I had put in the proper amount to proofread. However, besides proofreading, I believe I will hold on to the techniques I used in this essay and continue on in the same theoretical fashion as I compose future papers.

To Ozymandias Dying Young....

Time waits for no man. Thus, it's constant and relentless motion through nature has led many poets to question and even challenge it's power over all. Why must time wither away greatness?  Why must it quickly pass through times of joy? How can I become it's master? These are just a few of the questions that are posed and somewhat answered in Ozymandias, by Percy Shelley, and To An Athlete Dying Young, by A. E. Houseman. One reflects on time's amazing destructive power and how no object, idea, or person can escape it's horrific aging process. While the other praises an athlete who seems to have truly mastered time only by merely escaping it through death. Therefore, it can be said that Shelley reveals the terrible strength of time and Houseman poses a solution to it's seemingly omnipotent force on mankind. For just like Ozymandias, the Athlete was all-powerful too. In fact, there is a point when they were both at the peak of their greatness and prowess. A point when nothing but time held any sway over them. However, this is where Houseman comes to the somber conclusion that the only way to live everlasting and be immortal in this state of euphoria and ultimate power is to die or, in Ozymandias' case, disappear at that very moment. Therefore, it is quite obvious that these two poems complement each other. For though they reflect on entirely different subjects, the underlying themes are one in the same. The case proposed by Shelley is answered by the bleak realization of Houseman.

Imagery in Stafford and Kumin

The purpose of imagery in a poem is not merely to create a picture in the reader's mind but to also create a feeling or vibe for the entire poem. Essentially, imagery serves to stimulate the mind's senses. A poet has the power to be gloomy and depressed, or boisterous and jovial simply by employing specific images that connote those feelings. Moreover, Stafford and Kumin masterfully display the power of imagery as they pontificate on the death of animals and what those deaths mean to each of them individually. Firstly, Staffords general mood towards the dead dear in "Traveling through the Dark" is one of deep regret and emotional pain. Moreover this mood is effectively captured immediately in the title.  "Dark" serves to set the stage for the somber happenings that are to take place throughout the rest of the poem. The second stanza Stafford makes use of words such as "cold" and "stiffened". Additionally, a more subtle form of imagery can be found within the syntax of the poem. The sentence structure is choppy and new worries and concerns are constantly coming onto the scene. This creates an image of man who is somewhat confused and bewildered by this sudden death of nature. Likewise, in "Wood Chucks", Kumin uses imagery to convey the joy and thrill he gets from hunting down animals. He constanly refers to specific images of the tools he uses to hunt such as "cyanide" and "knockout bomb". His eagerness to desctibe these images reveals his own joy in using them.

Ozymadias and "Ponder..."

Both poems attempt to reconcile the idea of "carpe diem" but Shelley does so in a more sophisticated and universal manner than Cummings does. For instance, Shelley speaks of a once colossal statue that stood over the entire desert. And how time had slowly decayed such a mighty entity into mere rubble in the desert, a mere shadow of its past greatness. Further, Shelley reflects on how so much passion and truth can be put into something at any given moment but like all things in life, time will slowly but surely reduce it to nothing. In contrast, Cummings made light of this seemingly daunting revelation, as he mocked and used time for his own personal gain. Though this gain is simply sexual, his reason for acting in the present stems from time's consistent motion and it's decaying of all. Thus the underlying theme of these two poems is indeed "Carpe Diem".

Hamlet and the Ghost.....A Father-Son Moment

Typically when one thinks of the first interaction between Hamlet and his dead father, one tends to believe that the scene is governed by the surreal and supernatural. The fact that Hamlet is talking to a "ghost" is more prominent than the fact that this "ghost" is indeed his father. Therefore Ryan and I attempted to, essentially, reclaim the father-son moment that Act 1-Scene 5 truly is. The caring father witnesses the sorrow, pain, and anger in his beloved son, and attempts to assuage his need for vengeance. While Hamlet, betrayed and hurt by all others, looks nostalgically towards the "ghost" of his father, weeping from both sorrow and anger as he hears the injustice that he has suffered at the hands of King Claudius.  Ryan and I believe that in this sense, Scene 5 becomes a much more powerful and pivotal moment in the characterization of both Hamlet and his father.

Question #7- Passion v. Chaos

In Shakespeare's Hamlet, both passion and chaos are presented as one in the same. The plot of the play seems to have been created from these two ideas. A jealous member of the royal elite kills his brother, the king, by poison and now he has stolen the title of King. All the while Hamlet slowly uncovers the clues to his fathers death amidst his grief and woe. And Hamlet uses this revelation to spur his anger and from this anger comes the need to acquire his revenge. This more or less is the essence of the 1st act. Moreover, in this act, passion is always juxtaposed to chaos. The chaos of a father's death and the quick re-marrying of the Queen is put against the passion of Hamlet and King Hamlet's ghost as they mourn over the recent happenings. Additionally, the chaos of Hamlet himself, as he feigns his craziness and ill-disposition is juxtaposed to his own passion to get revenge on King Claudius.

Question #9- 1.ii.129-59 Analysis of Diction, Figurative Language & Imagery

Hamlet's first soliloquy is packed with tons of information about not only the story line but also important information on Hamlet himself. After submitting to the will of King Claudius, Hamlet gives a speech which essentially stems from his contempt for the current situation and hatred of his mother for having re-married so soon. Firstly, Hamlet's diction is one that is characterized by choppy outbursts of emotion followed by the occasional philosophical line that essentially makes sense of what would otherwise be insanity. Secondly, Hamlet's figurative language serves to emphatically illustrate his volatile emotions. From his liberal use of "O!" and "Fie!" it is clear that Hamlet is indeed experiencing scenes of very raw emotion. Specifically, in this speech Hamlet uses "O!" at least 4 times and ends a sentence with an exclamation about 7 times. These statistics are by no means an aberration. For these same patterns will be seen time and time again in Hamlet's soliloquies. From this figurative language stems the vivid imagery that further conveys Hamlet's emotions. For example, Fie on't! ah fie! 'tis an unweeded garden. This phrase brilliantly illustrates both his figurative language and his imagery. The unweeded garden, preceded by exclamations, creates a picture of true evil, sorrow and contempt all within the same line.

Question #14

          If anything the quote,"Why, then, 'tis none to you; for there is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so", directly affirm the belief that Hamlet is indeed acting. For the ability to bestow upon his friends such philosphical truths can not be done in a state of complete grief and sorrow. Hamlet is an intellectual and at this point he is using his acting abilities to conceal his true intentions. Which are to achieve as much information from everyone as he can and to get his revenge on King Claudius. Hamlet believes that everything in the world is relative. Every deed and every act can be taken in numerous ways by different people. He believes that nothing is universally good or bad. He believes the people of society cast upon life these false ideas of moralit. Therefore, he believes that there is no true wrong and there is no true good. Everything is relative
            Personally, I do not agree with Hamlet's statement. For I believe a society must hold unviersal wrongs and unviersal "goods". Amongst other things, we must all believe that killing with malicious intent just for the sake of killing is wrong. Likewise we must believe that helping those who are less forutnate is indeed a universal good. Therefore, I disagree with Hamlet.

Question #7

             Hamlet is an educated individual who knows the many nuances of life. Not only has he studied philosophy abroad but from his speech and thought process one can tell that Hamlet is indeed part of the educated elite. With that said. Hamlet has experienced a very surreal experience. Seeing the ghost of his dead father has truly rattled him. He was initially wrought with confusion and fear. But the intellectual side of Hamlet quickly overcame these intial feelings and he immeidately devised a plan to gain his revenge against King Claudius. Amongst other things this elaborate plan consisted of his "acting" in a certain way in order to get people to think that he is in fact "feeling" a certain way and to gain the information he may need from others. For if everyboy thinks that he is going crazy then he truly has the leverage. For he can sway people, like the spies King Claudius sent, to reveal themsleves. Additionally the fact that he specifically and directly refers to his "antic disposition" in his speech reveals that he is fully aware of what he is doing and has planned it ever since he decided to get revenge against King Claudius. If one were to say that Hamlet is acting solely of off his anger and grief. I would agree that he is indeed acting of his anger and grief. But to what purpose? Hamlet uses his anger and grief to plan his revenge. From his volatile emotions stems the need to use his intellectuallsim to gain his revenge against Claudius.

Question 4 -Laertes and Polonius' view of Ophelia&Hamlet

             Both Laertes and Polonius express rational concerns. Laertes cautions Ophelia by using Hamlet's status in society against him. He states that Hamlet, being the prince that he is, would not so easily fall in love with any woman, and that his present love is most likely ephemeral. On the other hand, Polonius believes that Ophelia's rejection of Hamlet has driven him mad and blames himself for not letting Ophelia reply to his letters. He also believes that Hamlet's disposition is partly due to the natural frenzies of love which he also claims to have experienced at a younger age. Of the two concerns, Laertes' is the most realistic. For the reader does not know Hamlet's tendencies toward women and his fling with Ophelia could easily be one of numerous harlots he has been with. Laertes argument could also be taken in a softer tone. For one would expect a man of royalty to be committed to family and state. Thus one would expect Hamlet to marry her, or fully commit himself to her in some way. However, though Laertes argument is legitimate, the reasons for it go beyond mere brotherly concern. Laertes has a hidden jealousy towards Hamlet. His position, wealth, status and Ophelia's love for him are all substantial reasons for Laertes jealously. Moreover, the fact that Laertes' father reported to Hamlet's father, King Hamlet, for so long may have resulted in some bitterness. Polonius' concerns, though rational, have no basis in reality for the reader knows that Hamlet is not acting out due to some resentment or overly passionate desire towards Ophelia. His lack of connection to reality is part of his character. For as an old and decrepit man his views are outdated and based in the past.
         From Laertes' position one can deduce that he does not think highly of women. He believes they can be easily duped and seduced into loving anyone without reason or purpose. Therefore, he must try to control his sister, who to him seems to be fulfilling this misogynistic stereotype. However, Polonius believes women are the source of strife and pain among men due to the incessant passion and lust they instill in their male counterparts. He sees Hamlet as a perfect example of how unbridled lust can lead to insanity.

King Hamlet and Hamlet : Like Father, Like Son

In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the relationship between a dead father and his living son is explored in a most intriguing fashion. For unlike in other father-son relationships that are present in the play, i.e Polonius-Laertes, the reader is never introduced to King Hamlet as a living entity and therefore the reader does not get to witness a "natural" encounter between the two. Instead King Hamlet and his son are presented in a most "unnatural" manner as a son is forced to witness the image of his dead father. However, from this unusual encounter Hamlet and King Hamlet are revealed as one in the same. For in their first encounter careful analysis of their speech patterns, nuanced phrases, and overall syntax reveals a common thread between the father and son. A thread of deeply rooted emotional pain. Now one could simply attribute this emotional pain to the circumstances of the play. A son will obviously mourn for his dead father, and a father would justly display some discontent having been murdered. But one could argue, that this is in fact a result of the personality of Hamlet and his father, in that, they are naturally emotionally flamboyant and therefore express their views and concerns in such a manner. Moreover, it is this need to wear their emotions on their sleeves and express their feelings through exaggerated language and tone that defines the Hamlets.

Dying with a Dying Fall....

"I know the voices dying with a dying fall / Beneath the music from a farther room".  These two lines seem to have an almost musical quality to them. If one were to read these two lines aloud, one might be able to pick up a rising and falling rhythm. Along with this musical rhythm the word "music" is actually referred to thus solidifying a reference to something beyond the mere words on the page, to something more artistically abstract. Emotionally, these two lines are quite somber and downcast. He repeats dying and follows it with "fall" and "beneath" which coincides with the rising and falling rhythm I referred to previously. It is as if the music is the ideal place put the general "voices" cannot rise into this place and instead fall with a "dying fall" beneath the place of music.  Additionally, music could also be taken as a direct reference to an emotion of some sort.
He states that he "knows" the voices who are falling beneath the music. However, it is not clear whether he is part of these falling voices or if he has achieved the ideal of music.

Debating Love...

After reading Andrew Marvell's poem, "To His Coy Mistress", I was immediately convinced that Marvell is in fact arguing and debating the reasons to love. Most notably, there are three critical points to Marvell's meticulously calculated argument. These three points serve to create a formidable and threatening argument for immediate love and satisfaction. Moreover, from these three points, the first in particular was most akin to "debating rhetoric", for it is essentially a disclaimer, with the purpose of debunking or nullifying any oppositional arguments or ideas the opposite side may have. He tells this lady that if he did in fact have "world enough" he would love her endlessly. This statements serves to absolve him from all and any blame or regret for he has stated that he would love her "slowly" if he could. Further, if one would simply refer to the text, it is quite evident that the hyperbolic language serves to solidify this, most likely, false statement. Secondly, once he has freed himself from any blame he then turns around and blames "Time". For it is time's fault that he cannot love her inch by inch for all eternity and therefore because of time they must love now. It is a truly compelling argument. Moreover,once he has set the stage for who is to blame, he then begins to refer to the lady specifically. He states, "Thy beauty shall no more be found." This is a clear-cut warning to the girl. That her beauty and significance will be forever gone if they do not act now. This sense of fear and inevitability is furthered by the figurative language of the text. Specifically, his use of words such as worms, dust, ashes, and grave. The aforementioned arguments are then combined and summed up in the third and most important argument. This is what I like to call the "Carpe Diem Argumentum". The "seize the day argument" consists of two important ideas. One that there is not enough time in the world. And two, that there is too much in the world for one to do at any given moment. Therefore we must all seize the day. Marvell articulates this masterfully through numerous devices ranging from his numerous innuendos to his blunt and direct statements. In fact, most of these blunt statements can be found in the last paragraph of third argument. This because the last argument is the most real, the most current, and the most urgent. The combination of these three arguments serves to create an impeccable logical reason for immediate love and satisfaction. Thus, Marvell's success in debating love.

"Had We But World Enough"

The first line of the poem is by far the most important.  It sets the stage for the three arguments to follow. The use of the past perfect 'Had" serves to create a conditional that cannot be achieved, for they do not have this supposed time and therefore must love. However, he implies that if they indeed had this time he would in fact love her endlessly. He claims that if he had all the world he would be able to fittingly love her. The second part of this line is, "this coyness lady would be no crime". Moreover since they do not have this time the coyness is a crime. This subtle chracterization serves to, as I said earlier, set the stage for the rest of the argument.

Collins is hilarious

No one can honestly take Collins seriously. This man clearly has no sense of appropriate language and sticks to what he knows without fail. He is constanly apologizing for events that have nothing to with him and likewise intervening where he is neither wanted nor needed. Additionally, he has an inability to comprehend what others are saying (especially Lizzy) and his whole demeanor, being a plump short man just adds to his hilarity. How one can detest this comical man, is beyond me. For he is an exaggeration of epic porportions that deserves a title as one of the most eccentric characters in the literature of the 1800's.

To Speculate or Not to Speculate...

Firstly let me start of by saying that speculation is a fundemantal act of all forms of research. For one will not always have the facts, and at times will be forced to make assumptions or "educated guesses". Moreover, a lack of evidence should not deter one from speculation, for all research would become stagnant if one were to only act from fact. But with this comes the caveat of being fully aware of what is speuclation and what is truly fact. Like many literary geniuses we do not have a record of their exact thoughts and beliefs and I think part of this is purposeful. For by the reader being oblivious to the author;s true intent, the literature beccomes open to different interpretations, thus the true magnificence of art. Therefore, I do not belive harding truly believes everything he himself says, but i believe the sheer ability to interpret and speculate on Austen's feelings and incentives is the main reason for his radical interpretaion.
However, I did find some truth in his statments. I do not believe Austen's single and most prominet intent was that of satire. For the caricatures are far too extreme for one to directly associate them with society itself. Both harding and I agree on this. However, I do not believe Austen was fearful or hateful of the society she lived in. Instead I believe she was greatly amused by her society and through her novel praised the eccentricities of the people of society and their needless customs and practices. The book was intend to amuse by showing the extremeties of a society. But it's all speculation.

Essay Review

After reading your comments on my essay, I have finally come to terms with the fact that fancy language and sentence strucutre does not impress. Especially when one interferes with the meaning and conveyance of one's message. This has been a problem of mine: the inability to simply and directly, without ambiguity, declare my stance on an issue. With this said, I also believe this essay was a step in the right direction for me. For I believe it was an original idea that was sufficiently examined and explained within the context of what I had read up to that point. Going on, I will endeavor to make my complex sentiments clear and succinct in order to attain maximum efficiency and meaning in my writing.

Most Important thing Ever for an ESSAY

Every single succesful essay that has ever been presented to human-kind contains an amazing conclusion. A good conclusion leaves the reader with an amazing taste that truly captures the main point of the entire essay and more importantly connects the the point of the essay to a bigger picture. I believe Essay Alfi fulfilled the art of a conclusion. For it is terse, clear and directly relates to the topic

I for Imelda, a valiant attempt

I stumbled upon this essay while I was perusing through the H through L essays. This essay caught my attention for a number of reasons. Firstly, the topic of the essay concerns the idea that elizabeth alone is the sole benificiary of Austen's character introductions, in that she is the one through which Austen tells the truth about society. And that Austen uses Elizabeth as a means of conveying what she believes to be the purpose of marriage. It is clear from the introduction that reader will be attempting to prove this purpose. But once again, as with the previous essay, I soon became disencanted by the large sections of quotes and somewhat choppy sentence structure. The transistions were neither present nor needed for their were scarcely more than a two sentences tied to together and along with this it was clear that the writer lacked the ability to create a flowing rhythm of points and explanations, and instead simply analyzes large sections of quotes, which albeit pertain to the topic. However, all this still did not deter me from favoring this essay. For I believe at its essence it is an original thought and one that would require much analysis and proof to justify. And because of this far-reaching opinion on Eliza's purpose in the novel I was drawn to it The title was not too bad either. But unfortunately, it seems as if the author may have attempted to prove to difficult of a position.

C. Mrs. Bennet: Austen's Punching Bag

I read three different essays, and this was my favorite:

1. This essay has a clear and succinct focus. It is neither too broad nor too narrow.  It is also an interesting topic and one worthy of discussion.

2. The transtitions throughout the essay are there, but I believe the quote length may be an issue, for it does take up alot of space, considering the essay in itself is not really that long

3. The same idea is maintained through the entire essay. It does not drift off topic but truly attempts to analyze Austen's perception of Mrs. Bennet with greater depth.

4. The topic sentences are purposeful and one can read the topic sentence and know what the rest of the paragraph will be about

5. In terms of actual grammar, I see no egregious errors, every sentence seems to flow well

6. Once again, the main issue I do have with this well written essay is the quote use. The quotes in themselves are usually about as long as the author's analysis in this essay. Additionally, I believe this essay could have been enhanced if it had been a little bit longer and expanded on some of the final ideas, like Mrs. Bennet's relations with Lady Catherine and Miss Bingley.

But otherwise, a well thoughtout essay with an attracting title and topic.