The Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/08/opinion/sunday/the-road-we-need-not-have-traveled.html?ref=editorialsandopinion
In the New York Times editorial "The Road We Need Not Have Traveled", the unidentified author urges the reader to recognize the long forgotten battle for human rights in the United States. Through the use of specific detail, syntax and diction, the author clearly succeeds in drawing in the attention of her reader to get her point across.
The details included in this editorial are probably the best part of the argument. They are slightly relatable while also including information I'm betting most people have never heard before. The author claims that "Mr. Mohammed was waterboarded 183 times in one month alone." This not only grabs the reader's attention, but plays with our emotions and adds some level of sympathy, maybe not in this case specifically, but towards all those that have had torture inflicted on them. The author continues to include details of 9/11, using a date we all remember to help her argument. Details of the crimes of course, are deliberately not included, and this makes her point plain and simple; torture is not okay--period.
According to the narrator, the US has "in the last decade accepted too many damaging and unnecessary changes to its fundamental principles of justice and human rights." Using words like "Justice" and "human rights" are extremely useful in her argument, because most people would agree these are two good things, even though their specific definitions will very between people.
Lastly, the author's strong use of syntax makes the article a casual, easy going conversation, despite its serious topic. The first body paragraph begins with "Let’s start with the delay." Short sentences lead up to longer ones like the following where the narrator claims that "All of the men could have been brought to trial years ago, but President Bush decided he could ignore the Constitution."
By utilizing the techniques found in the editorial, the author of "The Road We Need Not Have Traveled" creates a strong argument against torture in the United States.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Sunday, December 9, 2012
open prompt
1990. Choose a novel or play that depicts a conflict between a parent (or a parental figure) and a son or daughter. Write an essay in which you analyze the sources of the conflict and explain how the conflict contributes to the meaning of the work. Avoid plot summary.
In Arthur Millers, "Death Of a Salesman", the main character, Willy Loman, is a poor business man who is constantly striving to simply be "well-liked", for he believes this will be the key to his success. His first born son, Biff Loman, is equally unsuccessful, but disagrees with his father on most things, leading to conflict between the two throughout the play. In "Death of a Salesman", Arthur Miller uses the father-son relationship between these two lead roles to present the American Dream in a negative light.
The first conflict that started years of fighting occurs at the end of Biff's high school career, when Biff fails to graduate from High school because of failing a math class. When Biff realizes what is about to happen, he goes to see Willy, and ends up catching him in the middle of an affair Willy is having with another woman in a hotel room. Biff sees his father completely differently after this incident and wonders whether he can trust him about anything. All his life Willy has filled his son with "hot air", constantly praising him and creating the ideal, perfect world in his head. This is why it was so devastating when Biff caught him in the hotel room.
Willy pushes superficial ideas on Biff as he is growing up, telling him that being well-liked will get him far in life, when in fact, Biff finds out this is not at all true. Because of Willy's unsuccessful business success and mistakes in parenting and his marriage, Biff is able to see the falsity of the American dream.
In Arthur Millers, "Death Of a Salesman", the main character, Willy Loman, is a poor business man who is constantly striving to simply be "well-liked", for he believes this will be the key to his success. His first born son, Biff Loman, is equally unsuccessful, but disagrees with his father on most things, leading to conflict between the two throughout the play. In "Death of a Salesman", Arthur Miller uses the father-son relationship between these two lead roles to present the American Dream in a negative light.
The first conflict that started years of fighting occurs at the end of Biff's high school career, when Biff fails to graduate from High school because of failing a math class. When Biff realizes what is about to happen, he goes to see Willy, and ends up catching him in the middle of an affair Willy is having with another woman in a hotel room. Biff sees his father completely differently after this incident and wonders whether he can trust him about anything. All his life Willy has filled his son with "hot air", constantly praising him and creating the ideal, perfect world in his head. This is why it was so devastating when Biff caught him in the hotel room.
Willy pushes superficial ideas on Biff as he is growing up, telling him that being well-liked will get him far in life, when in fact, Biff finds out this is not at all true. Because of Willy's unsuccessful business success and mistakes in parenting and his marriage, Biff is able to see the falsity of the American dream.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Summary and analysis of Death of a Salesman
Author: DOS was written by the American playwright, Arthur Miller. He also wrote other well known plays such as "The Crucible" and "All My Sons". Also...he was married to Marylin Monroe!
Setting: Late 1940's, with day dreams into Willy's past. The whole play takes place in a 24 hour period, except for the requiem, which is a few days after. It takes place in Brooklyn, and places he visits, like Boston.
Plot: Starts off with Willy Loman the Salesman, home from a trip. He complains to Linda that Biff is home and has done nothing with his life. His two sons (Biff and Happy) are upstairs talking. Throughout the play, Willy recalls times with his family in the past. (Ex. the family before Biff's big football game in high school, or when Biff walked in on Willy cheating on his wife, Linda.) Willy asks his boss if he can work as a salesman here in town, and he ends up being fired. Willy goes to visit Charley, and after asking him for more money to pay his bills that usual, he admits he was fired, and Charley offers Willy a job. Willy says no. Linda finds something in the basement with the gas pipes which leads her to believe Willy is thinking of committing suicide. Linda blames Biff and Biff tells Willy and Linda he will leave and never come back. Willy finds that the family will get 20,000 dollars of insurance money if he dies. Willy is found trying to play seeds in the backyard where there is no hope of them growing. Ben discusses the jungle with him. Willy kills himself in the end and the characters stand at his funeral for the requiem. No one but the family shows up for the funeral.
Characters:
Willy Loman: Willy never achieves this full self-actualization that the play seems to lead up to, which definitely relates to Miller's definition of tragedy. Willy is essentially a failure in all areas of his life. He was fired from a job he had worked at his whole life, he had an affair with a woman behind his wife's back, and his relationships with his children are certainly no where near healthy. Willy continues to have hope, as we see him planting seeds in his backyard, and fixing up the house. Willy has numerous flashbacks throughout the play, and we see him in anguish over his poor decisions in the past, and also reminiscing about happier times.
Linda Loman: Linda is Willy's wife. They're very close, and she often acts like a mother to him, persistently serving him milk or manipulating the family to ease his stress. She finds a pipe in the basement that she believes is his attempt at suicide, but refuses to bring this up to him. She blames Biff for Willy's unhappiness.
Biff Loman: Willy's first and favorite son. He was very popular in highschool, and preffered football over doing his schoolwork, and eventually ended up not graduating because he failed his math class. He likes to work with his hands and has a problem with stealing.
Happy Loman: The younger of the two sons who seeks attention from his parents but is often ignored. He is very similar to his father.
Ben: Willy's older brother. Willy admires and looks up to him, and constantly asks for his advice. Ben is very successful and speaks of "the jungle". He is what Willy was constantly striving to be but never accomplished.
Charley: Successful businessman and neighbor to the Lomans who is always trying to help Willy, although Willy always denies it. He even tries to offer him a job.
Bernard: Charlies son and Biff's foil. A nerd in highschool, bernard eventually becomes a very happy, successful man with whom Willy catches up with when Biff is back in town.
Tone and Style: The tone is somewhat pessimistic. There is such a lack of bright, happy experiences from characters in the play that the tone comes of sort of dark and depressing. Miller did a wonderful job however, in creating strong characters that make it something easy to reread.
Point of veiw: I think Miller's point of view is probably most shown through the character of Biff, who seemed to be the only one to actually learn something from the events of the play and from his father's death. He recognizes now that the American Dream and what his father strode for all his life are not necessarily good things.
Symbolism:
The Garden/Growth: Willy continually tries to plant seeds in the garden of his backyard throughout the play, which could be a symbol for the efforts he puts into his work and into fulfilling the American Dream. The buildings around his house have grown so tall that there is too much shade to grow anything at all, but Willy continues to try anyway.
Quotes:
"After all the highways, and the trains, and the appointments, and the years, you end up worth more dead than alive."-Willy
This is one of my favorite quotes of the play that seems to sum it all up quite nicely. Willy worked at the firm his whole life, and when they let him go he had nothing, and wasn't even happy. This is what he got for trying to hold on to the American Dream.
“Because sometimes I’m afraid that I’m not teaching them the right kind of….. Ben, how should I teach them?” – Willy.
Willy is constantly questioning himself around Ben, wondering if he's doing things right or not.
Theme: Simply: the American dream
Willy thinks that being "well-liked" is the most important thing, and this superficial way of thinking ultimately leads to his unhappiness and suicide.
Setting: Late 1940's, with day dreams into Willy's past. The whole play takes place in a 24 hour period, except for the requiem, which is a few days after. It takes place in Brooklyn, and places he visits, like Boston.
Plot: Starts off with Willy Loman the Salesman, home from a trip. He complains to Linda that Biff is home and has done nothing with his life. His two sons (Biff and Happy) are upstairs talking. Throughout the play, Willy recalls times with his family in the past. (Ex. the family before Biff's big football game in high school, or when Biff walked in on Willy cheating on his wife, Linda.) Willy asks his boss if he can work as a salesman here in town, and he ends up being fired. Willy goes to visit Charley, and after asking him for more money to pay his bills that usual, he admits he was fired, and Charley offers Willy a job. Willy says no. Linda finds something in the basement with the gas pipes which leads her to believe Willy is thinking of committing suicide. Linda blames Biff and Biff tells Willy and Linda he will leave and never come back. Willy finds that the family will get 20,000 dollars of insurance money if he dies. Willy is found trying to play seeds in the backyard where there is no hope of them growing. Ben discusses the jungle with him. Willy kills himself in the end and the characters stand at his funeral for the requiem. No one but the family shows up for the funeral.
Characters:
Willy Loman: Willy never achieves this full self-actualization that the play seems to lead up to, which definitely relates to Miller's definition of tragedy. Willy is essentially a failure in all areas of his life. He was fired from a job he had worked at his whole life, he had an affair with a woman behind his wife's back, and his relationships with his children are certainly no where near healthy. Willy continues to have hope, as we see him planting seeds in his backyard, and fixing up the house. Willy has numerous flashbacks throughout the play, and we see him in anguish over his poor decisions in the past, and also reminiscing about happier times.
Linda Loman: Linda is Willy's wife. They're very close, and she often acts like a mother to him, persistently serving him milk or manipulating the family to ease his stress. She finds a pipe in the basement that she believes is his attempt at suicide, but refuses to bring this up to him. She blames Biff for Willy's unhappiness.
Biff Loman: Willy's first and favorite son. He was very popular in highschool, and preffered football over doing his schoolwork, and eventually ended up not graduating because he failed his math class. He likes to work with his hands and has a problem with stealing.
Happy Loman: The younger of the two sons who seeks attention from his parents but is often ignored. He is very similar to his father.
Ben: Willy's older brother. Willy admires and looks up to him, and constantly asks for his advice. Ben is very successful and speaks of "the jungle". He is what Willy was constantly striving to be but never accomplished.
Charley: Successful businessman and neighbor to the Lomans who is always trying to help Willy, although Willy always denies it. He even tries to offer him a job.
Bernard: Charlies son and Biff's foil. A nerd in highschool, bernard eventually becomes a very happy, successful man with whom Willy catches up with when Biff is back in town.
Tone and Style: The tone is somewhat pessimistic. There is such a lack of bright, happy experiences from characters in the play that the tone comes of sort of dark and depressing. Miller did a wonderful job however, in creating strong characters that make it something easy to reread.
Point of veiw: I think Miller's point of view is probably most shown through the character of Biff, who seemed to be the only one to actually learn something from the events of the play and from his father's death. He recognizes now that the American Dream and what his father strode for all his life are not necessarily good things.
Symbolism:
The Garden/Growth: Willy continually tries to plant seeds in the garden of his backyard throughout the play, which could be a symbol for the efforts he puts into his work and into fulfilling the American Dream. The buildings around his house have grown so tall that there is too much shade to grow anything at all, but Willy continues to try anyway.
Quotes:
"After all the highways, and the trains, and the appointments, and the years, you end up worth more dead than alive."-Willy
This is one of my favorite quotes of the play that seems to sum it all up quite nicely. Willy worked at the firm his whole life, and when they let him go he had nothing, and wasn't even happy. This is what he got for trying to hold on to the American Dream.
“Because sometimes I’m afraid that I’m not teaching them the right kind of….. Ben, how should I teach them?” – Willy.
Willy is constantly questioning himself around Ben, wondering if he's doing things right or not.
Theme: Simply: the American dream
Willy thinks that being "well-liked" is the most important thing, and this superficial way of thinking ultimately leads to his unhappiness and suicide.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Response to Course Material #4
We've just began Hamlet! I'm very excited to finally read this Shakespear play that I've heard so much about. I lack motivation to read works of literature like this one on my own, so I'm glad to have the chance to read and discuss it with my peers in class! My only problem is that I have never been very good at translating the confusion Elizabethan language so I find myself relying on Mrs. Holme's explanation, which I wish I didn't have to do.
We finally finished the Death of a Salesman, and I felt very satisfied when we were all through with it. I really enjoy spending quite a long time on one piece of literature, and I found something new to add practically every day in discussion because my classmates really make me think about the play. I also found myself comparing DOS and The American Dream, because it was actually pretty cool that we read theses two works in succession. They have a completely different...style, but both focus at some point on the consumerism we talked about in class, although I think it was more present in The American Dream. At first glance I would have said the American Dream was harder to decipher, but after reading DOS, I honestly couldn't tell which was harder. Both had so much "meat" to them, if you know what I mean! I looked forward to discussion everyday, as well as our tone challenges, and learning new words.
We finally finished the Death of a Salesman, and I felt very satisfied when we were all through with it. I really enjoy spending quite a long time on one piece of literature, and I found something new to add practically every day in discussion because my classmates really make me think about the play. I also found myself comparing DOS and The American Dream, because it was actually pretty cool that we read theses two works in succession. They have a completely different...style, but both focus at some point on the consumerism we talked about in class, although I think it was more present in The American Dream. At first glance I would have said the American Dream was harder to decipher, but after reading DOS, I honestly couldn't tell which was harder. Both had so much "meat" to them, if you know what I mean! I looked forward to discussion everyday, as well as our tone challenges, and learning new words.
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