*Recall how Oedipus came to kill his father and marry his mother and then to discover his true identity. Do you feel Oedipus deserves the punishment he receives at the conclusion of the play? Why does Oedipus accept his guilt and punishment without question or protest?
We cannot change our past... We cannot change the inevitable. In Oedipus Rex a curse said that Laius and wife, Jocasta, would have a baby and that baby would grow up and kill his father and marry his mother. When Laius and Jocasta heard this they gave Oedipus to a shepherd to leave on the top of a hill to die. The shepherd could not do this, so he gave Oedipus to another shepherd. When Oedipus grew older the oracle told him the same thing that was going happen but he was too arrogant to listen. Oedipus ends up killing his father and marrying his mother.
When everything started to unravel in Oedipus face all the little pieces started coming together from Tiresias to the shepherd who finally came out and told Oedipus. He then begins to realize for the first time that he might in fact be the man who killed Laius. As Jocasta tells him the place and time of the death of Laius, Oedipus says, “O Zeus, what plaything will you make of me?”
He begins to realize the connection between the death of Laius and what the oracle had told him. He realized he was the murdered of his father king Laius and had married his mother Jocasta and bared children.
Oedipus' punishment was necessary. The readers will say Oedipus deserved his punishments solely because he was warned by an oracle what laid before him but he didn’t take it into consideration. Oedipus searched for Laius' killers to put an end to a plague, and that plague would only be stopped when Laius murderer was killed, when it is revealed that Oedipus himself murdered Laius, and then that punishment seemed to be the only option. Death in the readers mind is not good only because of what it might do to the kingdom's people. On the other hand Oedipus was extremely ignorant to his actions, his punishment may have been for killing Laius, but how could you punish someone for being a victim of fate? Oedipus was blinded for a long time by his foolish pride long before the play begins. He only realized the truth behind Laius murder when it was right in front of his face. Oedipus was far from stupid, in fact he came off as quite a clever and humble man, but his was a world of blindness because his overwhelming pride and power.
Even Oedipus knew that his actions are not by choice, but by acts of the gods, he mentions this multiple numbers of times in the play: "Some savage power has brought this down upon my head." As well as "My god, my god, what have you planned to do to me?" This shows that Oedipus knew that he had no choice in his actions.
In this and in this alone, Oedipus is undeserving of said punishment. Oedipus may not have been a good man, but in the end he knew what was best for his kingdom.
In the play Oedipus says; "Out of this kingdom cast me with all speed" ...for only that would save his former subjects.” This shows that Oedipus cared deeply of his people and only wanted what was best for them. Also for this plague to leave these people land Oedipus would need to condemned of his actions. Oedipus accepts his guilt and punishment because he knows it was nobody fault but his in the play he states “Its mines alone, my destiny—I am Oedipus"
This shows he knew what he has done and it’s nobody’s fault but his. He knows this is his destiny/fate and he will accept it no matter the consequences. The tragedy is that the wise and powerful king Oedipus has no control of emotions.Fate places Oedipus into a test similar to the riddle of Sphinx. Oedipus is put into a position where he needs to use his wisdom or suffer defeat. Oedipus punishment taught him a lesson you cannot change your past no matter how hard you try, but you can open your eyes (mentally & emotionally) and change your future.
REFLECTION
Joining AP. Lit. with few weeks left in the first quarter thinking to myself was it too late to be here? I had doubt in my mind but i didn't pay it any attention. Moving at a fast pace I thought I couldn't keep up, but if i wanted to succeed I had to do what was necessary. Leaving first quarter I wouldn't categorize AP Lit. as hard, but challenging.Only being the second quarter I feel I've gained a much more clear mindset of how a college is will be. I plan on learning so much more. I really enjoy the class and the novels/plays we've been reading are very intriguing. I feel as if me as a person can grow a lot just from being apart of this class. In my opinion I wouldn't say I have any skills I feel confident in just yet. Second quarter will surely bring out my confident. What surprised me was how easy it was but at the same time it takes work and effort to actually get the job done. This quarter the ball game has changed. I'm going be more focused on my work, Pointing out my strengths and weaknesses in this class will greatly help me in furthering my knowledge. I'm looking forward to a fasnicating second quarter and an A!
L I F E.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Don't believe everything you hear..
Discuss the reasons for Iago’s actions. How far ahead does he plan and how much harm did he intend?
We all have certain actions we do; some planned others just, what can I say happen. Do we intend for them to go far? In Othello Iago is portrayed to be this loyal, trustworthy, so-called friend. “Honest” Iago they called him. Highly favored by his peers he knew he could manipulate any and everybody; and that he did. How can someone seem so honest, but tell so many lies? Iago knew exactly what he was doing when he was betraying everyone. From the lies he told to the manipulation he did. His manipulation of people and events leads to the play’s tragic climax,Desdemona’s death, and the downfall of many characters, including 
Iago himself. Iago is not your ordinary villain. The role he plays is rather unique and complex, far from what one might expect. Iago is smart. He is an expert judge of people and their characters and uses this to his advantage.Iago says many things hinting that he is not who he appears to be on the outside. He tricks the people around into thinking he’s someone who can be trusted and letting him fool them. On the inside he’s this cold- hearted genius/mastermind who only wants power, and success. In the play Iago says “I am not what I am” meaning I am not what I appear to be, a self contradiction of oneself. This role he played was well planned out. From the lies that were told, to the outcome of the story taking everyone outone by one. Let’s begin with Iago’s marriage with wife Emilia which really seems like a marriage made in hell. Iago constantly mocks and disrespects her. He never seems to offer her any affection, and he always talks trash about women in general. Despite this, Emilia seems eager to please him. She steals Desdemona's handkerchief in the hope that Iago will appreciate her for once. Throughout most of the play, Iago has the upper hand in his interactions with his wife. But the final scene is payback time for Emilia. Was Iago sexual frustrated, motivated by lust for Desdemona, envious of Cassio, or was it jealously over his wife’s supposed affair with Othello? Iago’s actions were confusing, and hazy; but somehow they all fell into play. 
Iago had nothing planned; he was just a smart man who was always two steps ahead of everyone else. He knew everyone’s business and how to use it. The only reason for his actions which Iago gives in his soliloquies is a rumor that Othello has slept with his wife.That could be the main reason why Iago’s actions go as far as killing. Iago says “It is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets. He has done my office.” The unclearness of this motivation has caused some readers to look elsewhere for Iago’s reasons, but it could be a powerful drive, Iago is somehow just evil. He could be an example of how evil arsis naturally in humanity. In Act 5 the final scene Othello says “If that thou beest devil I cannot kill thee” and then Iago says “I bleed sir, but not killed” that conversation that was exchanged to me mean was Iago mocking Othello, or is Iago as pure an evil as the devil. Iago in this play has the qualities of the devil in medieval and Renaissance plays. He is a liar, he makes promises he has no intention of keeping, he tells fancy stories in order to trap people and lead them to their destruction, and he sees other’s greatest vulnerabilities and uses these to destroy them. Iago does all this not for any good reason, but for love of evil. Another motive could have been jealousy; Cassio, like Roderigo, follows Iago blindly, thinking the whole time that Iago is trying to help him. During this whole time, Iago is planning of the Cassio, his supposed friend. 
On the night of Cassio's watch, Iago convinces him to take another drink, knowing very well that it will make him very drunk. Cassio just follows along, though he says, "I'll do't, but it dislikes me." is able to make him defy his own reasoning to take another drink. Iago envied Cassio and his rank. So he did everything in his power to take that away from him. Iago frames him; plants thoughts in Othello mind about Cassio and Desdemona, drunken him, and gets Roderigo to pick a fight, which eventually leads to Cassio being killed. Iago knew he had everyone where he wanted them, he knew the next step, and then the next one until someone cracked, and that didn’t take long. In my opinion I think Iago meant all if not most of the harm he caused, solely because not once did he ever apologize. In the play Iago said it himself I cannot be trusted. Whoever trusts me is a fool themselves. 
Quarter 3 Reflection
The quarter started off rough, but it gradually got better. The novel I had a fun time reading was of course "Their Eyes were Watching God". That novel was just outstanding being that that was only the second time reading it, which made me grasp it a little more then the first time. Being that we're arriving fast to the Ap lit exam I'm feeling more anxious/ nervous solely because I'm going try to remember every single detail that's been taught. I'm going to be quite honest the ap exam does intimidate me a little bit. I feel as if I could do go on the exam I just have to keep my focus, concentrate and ask question. My weakness would have to be the multiple choice questions. My strengths would have to be the poetry and prose. I'm ready to just take it and get over it with my 4 =)
The glasses makes a reflection if you didn't get it. Lol