Death of a Salesman Reader Response Critique 

In the play Death of a Salesman, the main character Willy Loman contradicts himself over and over again. In regards to the reader this can be rather confusing and disconcerting. He is a salesman who thinks construction work an unfit career for him yet he told his neighbor Charley “A man who can’t handle tools is not a man.” (29). Willy’s opinionated stance on occupation translates to the reader as ungrounded stubbornness. Stubbornness and pride are two of the most relatable traits as we all possess them. Similarly as he defends the way he has raised his sons to Ben saying “That’s just the way I’m bringing them up, Ben – rugged, well liked, all –around” (32). As a father his intensions do seem pure though he goes about them in the wrong way. It is through his role as a father that draws the pity from those who read the play. The character of Ben is meant to draw different sides of Willy and the boys. The advice that he gives to the boys proposes a playful relationship between them and invites the readers to participate in the love of two young boys and their uncles (33). 

"Death of a Salesman" Quote and Question

"Willy: Bigger than Uncle Charley! Because Charley is not -- liked. He's liked, but he's not -- well liked"(18).

Why does Willy believe that being "well liked" is directly linked to success in business?

New Year Reflection Walk

     During my reflect walk I had the chance to analyse my life in the quiet of my neighborhood. It was an opportune moment to ponder on past decisions and potential experiences that this next year will bring.2015 was all in all a fantastic year. Playing at state for softball, going to Europe, and deciding on a college are all pretty memorable events in my life that occurred this past year.

     The end of junior year and the beginning of senior year was a period of time that I think I underwent quite a bit of change. I feel like my priorities changed quite a bit, and if I may say I matured a lot. It's still a daily effort to keep myself in line. Sometimes I can be a bit of a loose cannon, hopefully that settles over time. 

     

      When I look at our little truck I see tradition because it used to be my great uncles and both of my siblings drove it around when they learned to drive. But I also see danger, because driving a stick shift is too much for my taste.

      Children. To my ears this translates as nieces and nephews, whom I hope to have as soon as possible. I find the idea of a growing family very exciting. I've always wanted a big ethnic family but that was not in the cards for me it seems.

Walking into this next year, which will bring more softball, my last summer before college, and then college is a little bit of a scary thought, but we'll see how it goes.

These were live photos so they looked better on my phone. idk.

Antigone Trial

      I found this mock trial to be extremely eye-opening. I was way more into it than I thought I would be, and so was everyone else for that matter. Getting everyone's competitive juices out there in A.P Liturature was quite a sight to behold. It was exceedingly apparent who watched the crime based shows and who didn't based on the questions asked by attourneys as well as the general vernacular used by all the participants. Next time I think it should be made clear earlier on exactly what the trial revolves around, to avoid mass confusion and conflict. 

Antigone Discussion 2.0

Quote:[Messenger Speaking] "What is the life of man? A thing not fixed

For good or evil, fashioned for praise or blame" (157).

Question: Is it better to have an evil purpose than to have no purpose for your life at all? Is this relative to the Biblical idea of Jesus spitting the "lukewarm" church out of his mouth? 

Antigone Discussion

Quote-- "Ismene: You could not take her - kill your own son's bride?

Creon: Oh, there are other fields for him to plough"(141).

Question-- Is this an accurate representation of the value of women in this time period, or is this solely the personal grudge Creon has against Antigone?

Bohemian Rhapsody

Music Tuesday/Lit Terms

Mama, just killed a man
Put a gun against his head
Pulled my trigger, now he's dead
Mama, life had just begun
But now I've gone and thrown it all away
Mama, ooo
Didn't mean to make you cry
If I'm not back again this time tomorrow
Carry on, carry on, as if nothing really matters

Too late, my time has come
Sends shivers down my spine
Body's a changin all the time
Goodbye everybody I've got to go
Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth
Mama, ooo (anyway the wind blows)
I don't want to die
I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all

I see a little silhouetto of a man
Scaramouch, scaramouch will you do the fandango
Thunderbolt and lightning very very frightening to me
Gallileo, Gallileo,
Gallileo, Gallileo,
Gallileo Figaro – magnifico

But I'm just a poor boy and nobody loves me
He's just a poor boy from a poor family
Spare him his life from this monstrosity
Easy come easy go will you let me go
Bismillah! No we will not let you go - let him go
Bismillah! We will not let you go - let him go
Bismillah! We will not let you go let me go
Will not let you go let me go (never)
Never let you go let me go
Never let me go ooo
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
Oh mama mia, mama mia, mama mia let me go
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me
For me
For me

So you think you can stop me and spit in my eye
So you think you can love me and leave me to die
Oh baby can't do this to me baby
Just gotta get out just gotta get right outta here

Ooh yeah, ooh yeah
Nothing really matters
Anyone can see
Nothing really matters nothing really matters to me

Anyway the wind blows

Anecdote: a short story within the song to intrigue the listener immediately. It sets the tone and makes the song more personable.

This song centers around an antihero. It starts by the main character making the poor moral choice of killing someone and then plans on running away.

The operatic part of this song features allusions to The Quran and the Biblical characters and Ancient Astronomers

http://www.elyrics.net/read/q/queen-lyrics/bohemian-rhapsody-lyrics.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oozJH6jSr2U