Death of a Saleman with a New Critical Slant

In Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Saleman he uses the unique character reaction and responses to drive towards the ultimate meaning of the play, which is Willy Loman’s quest for acceptance. The play begins with a discussion between Linda, his wife, and Willy, and about their sons. Willy calls his son Biff “A lazy bum” (25). This already proves Biff as somebody unmotivated without ambition. He is a character that never went anywhere in life. There is tension established by Willy’s statement of his displeasure with the actions of his son before Biff even enters the stage. Biff is not happy with his father either, asking to his brother happy “Why does Dad mock me all the time?” (29). Biff seems confused about this tension between his father and him. Willy is set up as an antagonistic force against Biff in the story. Their conflict is what drives much of the story, as well as the conflict between Willy and his desires.  The symbols of society oppress Willy, found in the forms of his material possessions. Willy and Linda argue from pg. 73-74 about the state of these objects. They all cost a lot of money to fix and maintain, a sacrifice that Willy does not seem happy about. He yells at her over the objects as she says “Once in my life I would like to own something outright before it’s broken! I’m always in a race with the junkyard!” (74). Willy cannot find the acceptance in the material objects he owns, because they always break down before they’re truly his. He cannot feel any pride over accomplishing this, as well as any celebration from his family, because he is always one step behind everything. He consistently lives in the past, through his flashbacks of previous conversations. He cannot find happiness in the validation of other people, and so after many attempts to try to kill himself, he finally comes to the realization that suicide is the best solution because it will provide for his family better than he actually cans with “Remember, it’s a guaranteed twenty-thousand-dollar proposition” (119).  It is only through this decision to carry out this final act of desperation that Willy becomes content and happy with his life, as his family finally accepts him.

2016

This last year has been a year of ends. I have gone through so much, and felt like so much has finished this last year. This year, in 2017 I hope to face everything as less of an ending and more of a beginning.

Phantom of the Opera

I am really enjoying this book so far. It provides a lot of background depth to the characters, and it is a lot of fun for me to read. For example, Leroux goes in depth about Raoul's family, while in the musical you hear no mention of any sort of family. Of course in a limited time you must eliminate things that don't add substance to the main plot, so reading this book gives a wonderful background to the characters. Phillipe, his older brother was given the primogenture as "His two sisters and brother, Raoul,... waived their claim to their shares"(19). This establishes Raoul very quickly as either a very passive character, or a very caring one. In fact only a few pages later the latter is confirmed as he asks after Christine has fainted that "Don't you think. .. that those gentlemen had better cleared the room?"(22). In the musical you don't see more of his personality, only really how he feels towards Christine. However you do recognize where the musical got the characterization as one of my favorite lines so far comes from Raoul "One idea alone filled Raoul's burning brain: of course, Daaè wished to be left alone for him! "(24). I think it's funny that he is at first portrayed as a caring young boy,  and so his thoughts turn to himself that of course Christine was waiting for him,  since he thinks himself amazing. This tends to be a problem with nobility, and I think Leroux did a very good job portraying pompous nobility.
Anna Marie- Are there any other characters that are similar to Raoul in the book? Not just directly the same, but also a character that seems one way only to have their whole character expanded by one line.

Post-trial Reflection

During my preparation for the trial, I was extremely nervous. I had heard that the prosecution never wins, so I was hopeful that I would have a chance to win. Of course, during the course of the trial I realized I would not have any chance of winning. The verses we learn in the Bible about God's law being higher than man's law knew that the audience would believe only the defense. I was glad that the case was as close as it was, but it was inevitable. All the preparing in the world could not win a lost battle. As the case went on I continued to realize that, and by the end of the trial I was resigned to the result of the case. It is a little discouraging to know that I couldn't win, and that it'd be impossible for me to succeed. It's impossible to turn people's biases, and this case really highlighted that fact in my opinion.

Antigone

What line really stuck out to me was the line Creon says after hearing what Antigone has done.  He says that "The over-obstinante spirit is soonest broke; as the strongest iron will snap." I think it's a point of view people see often when a rebellion threatens to rise up. I'm wondering if Antigone will die, and perhaps be held as a matyr of the rebellion against Creon.

Left Hand of Darkness

This seems to be a very odd book, but so far I'm enjoying the book because of how off-beat it feels.  You're thrown into the story in medias res, in the middle of Genly Ai's work here on Winter. I think it's a good method,  because in scifi you end up having to do a lot of telling about who and what everything is,  so to cut down on that by eliminating some of the useless information at the beginning of his journey is good. I thought Genly's interactions with the other Karhides to be very interesting,  as he definitely spoke as a diplomat in a strange culture. Like on page 52, when Genly is talking to the leader of the Caravan, he seems very curious about the history of the mountains. Ursula Le Guin is good about making sure Genly discovers things at the same pace as the audience, yet making sure she doesn't give us all 12 name because that information isn't relevant. She's able to give us only what we need to understand the story.
What especially stuck out to me was the fact that we now know that Genly's mission will suceed. He goes to the Foretellers and asks them,  from about page 65 until page 67. The only question Le Guin has to answer now is how do we get there. My question is do you have any theories for how Genly will get Winter to join the Ekuman?

I have taken the Myers-Briggs type test before, and I've always switch between two types. That is, ESFP and ENFP. The Performer and the Campaigner, being the two types respectively. I always score exceptionally high in the Extroversion category, gaining 100% rating. I think that both are very accurate, and I would consider myself a cusp on the S and the N. The S represent sensing, meaning I am more comfortable using my sense, while the N represent Intuition, representing my comfort in understanding abstract ideas and theories. I would definitely see some of myself in both. I struggle with some more of the complex theories and ideas, while with sensing I was never very good with figuring out myself in space, meaning I was always pretty terrible with Legoes, as well as my hearing being rather poor.

Reading the descriptions on 16personalities.com, I do find myself relating to both types. As ENFP is described "ENFPs will bring an energy that oftentimes thrusts them into the spotlight, held up by their peers as a leader and a guru – but this isn't always where independence-loving ENFPs want to be. Worse still if they find themselves beset by the administrative tasks and routine maintenance that can accompany a leadership position. ENFPs' self-esteem is dependent on their ability to come up with original solutions, and they need to know that they have the freedom to be innovative – they can quickly lose patience or become dejected if they get trapped in a boring role.... ENFPs are very emotional and sensitive, and when they step on someone's toes, they both feel it." I definitely relate to this; I tend to get very upset when I make other people upset. I also bring a lot of energy to groups I'm in, getting people pumped up and excited for what we're doing. But the faults they describe, such as easily stressed and I tend to overthink things. But to my ESFP side, I'm great at being bold and being original. But one of the issues the website reports I definitely relate to "The biggest challenge ESFPs face is that they are often so focused on immediate pleasures that they neglect the duties and responsibilities that make those luxuries possible. Complex analysis, repetitive tasks, and matching statistics to real consequences are not easy activities for ESFPs. They'd rather rely on luck or opportunity, or simply ask for help from their extensive circle of friends. It is important for ESFPs to challenge themselves to keep track of long-term things like their retirement plans or sugar intake – there won't always be someone else around who can help to keep an eye on these things." All of those issues I personally relate too. However, if I had to choose a side of being, I would say I'm more in touch with the ESFP side of being, rather than ENFP. For the other two letters, the F(eeling) and P(erceiving), both definitely describe me. I make my decisions based on how my emotions relate, while with Perceiving I always look at a big picture rather than at individual details.

 I received three affirmations, but my favorite had to be from my friend Jennifer. She gave me very creative adjectives,  that I think were all truthful. I felt happy that she looked at me like this, and it was really great to hear those kind of things from a friend.