Macbeth Act 4 (scene 3)

In this scene Malcolm says "With this grows in my most ill composed affection such a stanchless avarice that, were I king, i should cut off the nobles for their land". (74) Malcolm is saying that if he were king, he knows he wouldn't be a good king because of his growing lust and green. (Ex. planting) Macduff then says "sticks deeper, grows with more pernicious root than summer seeming lust, and it hath been the sword of our slain kings". (74) Macduff is saying that this type of greed is growing and has been what has killed their kings in the past. (Ex. planting)

Macbeth Act 4 (scenes 1 and 2)

In the fourth act of the book, there are is a lot of imagery of doubles and planting, and some of sleep. Macbeth says, " But yet I'll make assurance double sure and take a bond of fate. thou shalt not live that I may tell pale hearted fear it lies and sleep in spite of thunder". (63) Macbeth is saying that he wants to be really sure that he won't be harmed, so he is going to kill Banquo just to assure himself that he's safe. (Ex. sleep and doubles) The second apparition tells Macbeth " Be bloody, bold, and resolute! Laugh to scorn the scorn the pow'r of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth". (63) The apparition is telling Macbeth that he should continue to do what he's doing and commit whatever murders he wants because no man will be able to do any harm to him. (Ex. injury) Malcolm and Macduff are talking and Malcolm says, "I think our country sinks beneath the yoke; it weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gash is added to her wounds". (72) Malcolm is saying that Scotland is failing as a country because of its horrible leadership, and that each day it seems like there is more terrible news about murders or something of the sort. (Ex. injury)

Macbeth Act 2 (scenes 1-4)

in the second Act of Macbeth, there was a lot of imagery of sleep and darkness and death. There wasn't really that much of sleep and planting though. In the first scene of the second act, Banquo is talking and says, " The King's a-bed: He hath been in unusual pleasure". (24) Banquo is basically saying that the king is sleeping, but he seems a little strange, and if I had put the rest of the quote he goes on to say that he's actin strange because he's giving gifts to the servants quarters. (Ex. sleeping and strangeness) Also in the first scene, there is a monologue by Macbeth, and he says, " Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand? Let me clutch thee". (25) Macbeth is looking at himself as a murderer, and he basically starts hallucinating because he knows he's going to commit a terrible crime. (Ex. disease/illness in the mind) Then in scene two, Lady Macbeth says, "Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done't". (27) Even though near the beginning of the book, sleep was deprived of a man as punishment from the witches, sleep actually saved Duncun for a time being before he had been killed because he looked like Lady Macbeth's own father as he slept. (Ex. Sleep) Also in the second scene, Lady Macbeth says to her husband, "These deeds must not be thought after these ways; so, it will make us mad". (28) The crime they committed could possibly foreshadow the insanity that will befall upon either Lady Macbeth or Macbeth because they aren't able to live with it. (Ex. Illness of the mind)

Macbeth Act 1 (scenes 4-7)

In scene 4 Malcolm says, " Nothing in his life became him like leaving it. He died as one that had been studied in his death". (13) Malcolm is saying that Mcdonwall's life didn't mean anything and dying was the only thing that was important in his life. (ex. Injury/disease) The king says, "I have begun to plant thee, and will labor to make thee full of growing". (14) The king is talking to Macbeth about how he has been impressed with him and has began to form a name/place for Macbeth in the kingdom. (ex. planting) Macbeth says, " Stars, hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires". Macbeth is very upset that Banquo is going to be the next king, and he doesn't want anyone to know of his own dark desires that he is succumbing to because he knows he will have to kill Banquo in order to become king. ( ex. darkness) Lady Macbeth says, " Your face, my Thane, is as a book where men may read strange matters". (18) Lady Macbeth is speaking to Macbeth about how he already looks like he's done something guilty, but he needs to act like there is nothing wrong and should act like he's innocent.

Macbeth Act 1 (scenes 1-3)

"For brave Macbeth, well he deserves that name, disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel, which smoked with bloody execution, like Valour's minion carved out his passage". (26) "Waving his bloodstained sword, he cut his way through the rebels until he reached". (27) These passages explains how Macbeth is a brave soldier and is respected for his fighting in the war. So this leads the reader to assume that he is of high rank and respected among his kingdom. (ex. injury) "if i say sooth, I must report they were as cannons overcharged with double cracks so they doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe". (28) this passage talks about how Banquo and MAcbeth are both very brave and weren't frightened by the multiplied amount of soldiers Norway had, but they fought doubly hard. this leads the reader to assume that both Banquo and Macbeth are of high stature and are both good soldiers. (ex. Doubles) Sleep shall neither night nor day hang upon his pent-house lid, he shall live a man forbid". (32) one of the witches denies a man sleep because his wife didn't give her chestnuts when the with wanted them. So the reader understands that the witches aren't exactly friendly people, and they also have the power to control people. (ex. sleep) "so withered and so wild in their attire, they look not like inhabitants of the earth". (34) Banquo describes how the witches look, because they appear to be ragged and ugly, and look like they are from another world. (ex. clothing)

High Fidelity -last blog

I wasn't able to finish High Fidelity the movie because i was out sick, but from what I did notice was that Rob seemed more successful in the movie than in the book. The image the movie gave was the record store full of people buying albums, even younger teens who tried to steal some of the records. But in the book, Vinyl Records seems like a small, trashy, and rarely visited record shop. No one ever really comes, especially not younger teens. Also, I thought Laura and Charlie got along better than in the book. I felt like their relationship moved faster in the movie than in the book. In the book, it seemed to take forever for Laura to even be on better terms with him, but in the movie they went out and were on speaking terms in a shorter amount of time. Rob's relationships were his top-five listed women mostly matched up personality wise to the book. I'm not sure if the movie shows Jackie, but I didn't get to that part if they did. the image of Marie La Salle surprised me. I didn't really get the vibe that she was black in the book, because when Rob said she looked like some version of Doris Dey or whatever that name was, I imagined someone white. Rob also didn't try and figure out if she liked him by doing his weird couch thing by sitting first and seeing if she sat next to him, or slowing down his walking pace to see if she would slow down with him. Even the scene before they had sex wasn't as awkward as it was made to seem in the book.

It's Over!

After the funeral, Rob started showing changes that he was making in his life. Now that Laura is back with him, i think that he feels a lot better about himself and his self esteem isn't so low. But what i think brought a significant change was the fact that he actually talked to Laura about how he felt. She challenged him to examine himself and basically called him out on a lot of stuff, and he began realizing what he wanted or could b satisfied about in his life. He comes to the conclusion that he loves Laura, and even though she rejects his marriage proposal, and they aren't sure where they are gong in the future, Rob knows that he has to stop over analyzing everything but just let go. He starts making decisions on his own, not letting his top five's or record collection decide for him. But he's actually taking a step forward with his life by claiming it and doing things himself. i think Rob is pretty believable. The reason I say this is the fact that he knows everything isn't concrete, like his relationship with Laura. So he knows everything might not turn out all right in the end, but he wants to be with her right now while he has her. That's the reason why i think he's at peace. Not saying he's got everything sorted out, but he excepts the fact that his life and relationships are what they are, and he has put some effort into it.

I like the end of the book. While he always hated Barry's band, it finally displayed that Barry actually had talent and Rob was proud by the fact that Barry proved him wrong by having a great show. Also, Laura and Rob left off on a good note as well. As the reader, I don't really know if they'll stay together forever, but I do know that they are both happy and proud of each other at that moment.

Five bad Ways to Break Up Wit a Homie

On IM
On the phone
On your birthday
Through someone else
Not tell you at all

Robbie BOIIII

Rob’s relationships have obviously been rocky, but a lot of it has to do with Rob’s fear of death. He never wants to be too dependant on one person, because if he has have to rely on one person, especially one whom he loves, and that person ends up dying, then he never wants to feel that pain. Also the unpredictability and uncertainty of not knowing when a person could die affects Rob’s relationships, so he thinks it’s better to keep going from one woman to the other so that he doesn’t have to become so dependant and attached. I think that his reasoning is actually a good one. Death is really painful, and I can understand that he doesn’t want to be attached for a long amount of time with another woman because of the thought of losing her, but I also don’t believe everything that Rob is saying. If he didn’t want to stay with one person for too long, but move on to the next woman after the next, then he shouldn’t try and keep in contact with them like he tried to with all his ex-girlfriends. He tried finding out where they were in their lives, but to save him from that experience of finding out that they were dead, and then he should have just called the relationship quits and never contacted them again. He also shouldn’t have been in the relationship in the first place, because obviously if his past relationships affected him that much that after 10 to 20 years he wanted the talk to them, then he shouldn’t of had relationships with them.
I think Rob’s reaction of Laura’s father’s death is natural. Not only are Rob and Laura broken up, but also Rob wasn’t that close to her father, so I think it is only human that he’s not sure how to feel about his ex-girlfriends father’s death. But after the funeral when they all go outside, I think his emotion of sadness is actually legitimate. He isn’t trying to act like he’s sad or trying to cry and fake his feelings, but Rob actually feels horrible for Laura. It also opened up his eyes to death in general and how it has a connection to his life and explains why he acts the way he does.

Top Five Movies That Make Me Laugh

1. My Cousin Vinny
2. Superbad
3. Diary of a Mad Black Woman
4. Juno
5. Tommy Boy

Robbie Ma Boi (chapters 14-21)

After going to a Pub with Laura, Rob starts harassing her by calling her at work and home like ten times a day, and showing up to her house for no apparent reason. He realizes that he’s kind of going through the same stages he did when Charlie had dumped him. So, he decides to see all of his ex-girlfriends; all of the women who had at some point rejected him. He wants to see them just to talk. To make sure they were on good terms and let them all feel that all was forgiven between both parties. He wanted to be able to say good-bye so that they wouldn’t haunt his thoughts like they had been for so long.

But after meeting with each one of them, Rob does what he sets out to do, make amends. But, he isn’t really satisfied. I think he was disappointed because he had this one ideal of each woman, but they all turned out to be something different. I think he sees this especially with Charlie. Even thought she was the same as always, Charlie was different to Rob. She had all the same qualities as she had when they were in college, but he had been so blinded back then that he mistook her qualities for positive things, when in fact he didn’t like them at all. And when Rob asks Charlie about why she left him for Marco, she straight up tells him that he didn’t have any confidence and really didn’t have any glamour. All that she said just confirmed his own speculations about himself.

Rob is realizing that he is just normal and he isn’t anything outstanding. And maybe now he’s starting to come to terms with this. He’s not anything fabulous, just a normal guy.

Top Five Beasties!

Top Five types of foods
Top Five Pets to have
Top Five movies
Top Five cultures
Top Five Hotties

Rest of character!

She can hear him pulling clothes from hangers, throwing them mercilessly into his small black suitcase, just making a real racket.
Yea that’s right. He should leave. Who does he think he is? Trying to walk back into our lives when he knows he screwed me over before. Sloan and I will be just fine without him, Avalon thinks. Enraged by all the noise Preston is creating, Avalon storms furiously up to their bedroom screaming,
“You’re going to wake the baby up. You need to get your shit together and get the hell out of my house”
“Who do you think helped you pay for this house the last three months? Huh?” ‘
“Oh what? From your paycheck? What paycheck? It is basically nonexistent”.
“Hey I did what I could to provide for this family. It’s not like I didn’t try”
Whatever, I’m still trying to figure out why you came back after ditching the first time? Didn’t have anywhere to go? No one to take you in?”
“You act like I had a choice. You’re the one who wanted me gone in the first place. You started acting all weird and shit on me. Saying you don’t want me around What’s the matter with you? Don’t you know what you want?”
“Shut the hell up! You’re going to wake the baby”
Avalon turns and slams the door to the bedroom behind her. She takes a deep breath and briskly walks to the baby’s room. Even thought she hadn’t even seen him yet, just the aura of his presence calmed her down. She loved him more than life itself and couldn’t be happier to stare into hazel eyes and he held on to her finger tightly with his miniscule ones. But as she approached the cradle with it’s layering of yellow and blue blankets, she noticed that she didn’t Sloan’s curly light brown hair sticking out from underneath the covers. Avalon rummaged through them desperately seeking to find him. The door to her bedroom closes and she hears footsteps going downstairs. That beast! What has he done with my child? She runs from the room and full pace, flying down the stairs skipping two or three at a time. Where the hell is he?
He’s coming with me. You’re not stable enough to be taking care of a child. If you can’t make your mind up about what you want, then how can you even be a mother? This child is going to need some concrete decisions made for him. Let me take him and let’s work things out from there.
Are you crazy? He needs his mother.
He needs a parent. One who’s sane enough to make the right decision?
Soft cries waft to her ears as he finishes his sentence.
Avalon eyes her sleeping beauty on the table in his carrier. She moves toward him and swiftly picks him up rocking and shushing him.
Avalon don’t be difficult. Give him to me.
Sloan is the world to me and you won’t ever lay another hand on this precious gift if I or the law have anything to say about it Preston takes several steps forward until he standing only a few feet away from the pair. I wanted this to go smoothly, and it still can if you’d only cooperate!
Protectively shielding her baby from Preston, Avalon turns her back and looks over her shoulder. I’m his mother and I have every right to keep my child! Don’t you dare touch us! Ignoring her, Preston walks up behind her and turns her around forcibly. The jerking only makes Sloan cry even harder, his soft cries turning into blood curdling screams.
I don’t want to hurt anybody, but you’re putting my child in danger and i will take him with me tonight. He tries to take the baby out of his mother’s arms as gently as the circumstance allows, but as Avalon’s grip tightens so does his.
Leave my baby alone! He’s not going anywhere! Preston frees one the baby’s blanketed feet through the struggle and Avalon hangs on to the other.
Let go they both shout
The baby is being stretched, his face is red. A trickle of blood escapes the stretched skin. He’s powerless in his fate.
Avalon pulls all the harder, thinking only of her one love.
Inevitably, as both forces tear away in opposite directions, the baby is torn in half.
Now they both get to have a piece of what they love.

Character

Character: Avalon
For a living: physical trainer
Body type: she’s got an athletic build, light skinned, green eyes, medium height, dark hair, she rocks the twists
Clothes: Although she wears her workout clothes a lot, when she’s not working out, she likes to wear terry cloth jumpsuits (like the juicy ones)
Best qualities: her best qualities are loving her family, giving their household some structure, and keeping her morals strong
Worst qualities: holding grudges and not being forgiving.
Comes across: She comes across sometimes as being a little controlling, pretty easygoing but she can have a temper if you get on her bad side
Weakness: too trusting
Hate: She hates being lied to and used
Love: She loves her baby more than anything in the world

Rob is way too hype! More hype than Parker!

Rob is too hype! He is constantly conflicted about his relationship with Laura, but he only seems to want her when she doesn't want him. And when she is liking him, then he loses interest in her and doesn't put any effort into the relationship. I don't really get him at all. I don't think he should have been conflicted by the relationship in the first place. Even in the beginning of their relationship, Rob says he never really had a wild crush on Laura. They never really had that steam, and he cheated on her when she got too boring for him and he was in his phase of not wanting her. when Rob first met Marie, he starts liking her, but doesn't think she likes him because Rob has the impression that she and T-Bone are dating. But, when Marie invites Rob over to her place after the bar, and she begins giving him hints that she wants to sleep with him, he tries to get out of the situation. It's a redundant thing that keep happening with Rob and women, once they take interest he wants to bail out. I'm not sure why Rob is acting this way, but maybe he has commitment issues. Perhaps he only likes the uncertainty but not the real thing.

High Fidelity chapter 1-6

While reading the opening chapters of High Fidelity, my first impression of Rob was that he liked to talk, think, have sex. Good thing you (Miss P) warned the class, because I had no idea there was this must sex in the book. I'm not really sure if I like him yet or not. His relationships always end up the same way, most of the time with him getting dumped and his woman leaving him for another guy. i don't think the has much self confidence because he is always second guessing himself, never knowing what he wants, and is always comparing himself to the men who steal away his women. But I guess that's human nature as well, because who wouldn't compare themselves to the person your mate is cheating or leaving you for. "Sometimes it seems as though the only way a man can judge his own niceness, his own decency, is by looking at his relationships with women" (Hornby 68) Rob relies on his relationships with women to define who he is. it's like he doesn't really have his own definition for himself, but let's the women in his life create that definition.

Rob's obsession with music is kind of what sends him on an emotional roller-coaster. Music pushes him toward the future, but it also holds him back into his past. He even said so himself when he started crying at Marie LaSalle's concert. "Sentimental music has this great way of taking you back somewhere at the same time that it takes you forward, so you feel nostalgic and hopeful all at the same time" (Hornby 63) Music for him, in general always seems to have some sort of tie to his past relationships or the ones that he wishes he had.

The first first entry

Usually, when I’m at the library, I call one of my good friends and ask them what books are worth my time to read. I have my own series that I follow, but I always get the opinions of my friends because most of the time I enjoy the same books that they do. What strikes my attention as a good book, are the ones that throughout the book show the progression of the characters. While the characters are transforming, learning, and growing, I feel like by the end of the book I’ve sort of become a part of them. I don’t want the story to end because I have artificial, but what seems like real emotional ties with these fictional people.
Good novels challenge you to think ardently about what you believe and also lead into great discussion topics. In AP English last year, we had this great book full of excerpts, short stories, and articles from different authors about social issues and issues of diversity. At the end of the school year, I couldn’t sell that book back. With it’s striking topics and bold statements, many of the stories contained inside lead to some of the best discussions I have ever had surrounding diversity. Though I didn’t agree with multiple people in the class, the novel itself was really raw. It made a lot of people feel uncomfortable and unsure at times. But if everything were comfortable then important issues would never get discussed.
Though I’m guilty of reading “novels” like Gossip Girl and The A-List, I can’t say that those books are actually real reading books. The writing isn’t profound at all, and are more of just a guilty pleasure. To me, those types of books are trash because they have no meaning. They talk about the superficial stereotyped life of the wealthy. But, they are good for nothing else. At the end of the novel my breath isn’t taken away, I don’t want to talk about the ending with anyone, unless it’s like “Omgosh I can’t believe so and so hooked up with so and so”. Not exactly life changing or altering. Those types of books have no value because there isn’t any substance, value, or morale within them.

How To Read!

In his essay,Nick Hornby strongly emphasizes that if you're reading a book that you don't like, then you should just put it down. He talks about the reasons people like television over reading, which he suggests is this notion that a lot of people think books are boring. He thinks that reading books that aren't appealing to you and your interest, then you shouldn't read them at all. You should read only for you, not what's on a book list of the top 100 books to read in your lifetime, but you should read what you enjoy. He then gives the example of his three friends,who have been reading this really dense book that is on one of those top 100 lists, and how they can barely read a few paragraphs each night. Hornby is basically saying that reading shouldn't be boring or painful. So if you don't understand it, then you won't be motivated to read it and won't ever read it for that matter.
Personally, I don't like to read books that I don't understand or I'm just not feeling. I have no problem putting it down, so I agree with what Hornby is saying. When our AP English class read Last Days of Summer last year, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think the experience was a positive one because of the way the book was written (stylistic choices, the syntax and dialogue between character)and how the characters were developed. By end of the book you could feel the relationship between Joey and Charlie and so when he dies it's like whoa! There's an emotional connection there. A book that I didn't enjoy was called something like Evolution. i can't really remember that's how bad it was. It basically just told the story of this boy and girl and how they travel through time and each have a connection with nature or animals. i don't know, but it was too weird and there was barely any dialogue between the characters and it was just hard to understand what was going on because something different happened on every page.