Response

Your poem is very good choice for identity. But do you think we really lose our identity if we lose our memory?(or does it just change???) Are we still not the same person? As you have revealed in the poem, our expereinces are shped by others and ourselves and maybe we do lose them.
Did you know that there is a lot of Robert Frost in that poem as well. I liked your insight.

Macbeth Help

http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/macbeth

http://www.gradesaver.com/macbeth/

poem identity response

I Could Give All to Time

To Time it never seems that he is brave

To set himself against the peaks of snow

To lay them level with the running wave,

Nor is he overjoyed when they lie low,

But only grave, contemplative and grave.

What now is inland shall be ocean isle,

Then eddies playing round a sunken reef

Like the curl at the corner of a smile;

And I could share Time’s lack of joy or grief

At such a planetary change of style.

I could give all to Time except – except

What I myself have held. But why declare

The things forbidden that while the Customs slept

I have crossed to Safety with? For I am There,

And what I would not part with I have kept.

- Robert Frost

The speaker in this poem expresses his personal experiences in his life. He has had the ups and downs throughout time; however, Frost shares Time's emotionless reaction because they both know that life goes on. The speaker views that life has to have sad days and happy days, for those that are level only offers boredom. The inconsistencies of life are what give us souls and imperfection. Frost also indicates that life is too short to just give away. "Except what I myself have held." line 12. He wants to keep his memories and identity with him when time goes by. "At such a planetary change of style" line 10. As people grow older, we lose our memory and therefore, we lose our identity. In summary, Frost wants us to take our experiences of everyday life and live them to the fullest. Because who knows what will happen next.

The Lottery Response

The village in this short story follow many values that have been past down from generation to generation. The villagers have been so used to their traditions that they have become ignorant to change and deny the fact that their ways are out-dated. '"It's not the way it used to be," Old man Warner said clearly. "People ain't they way they used it be."'-pg 8. It is also noticeable that the villagers are waiting for new ideas for population control for they are becoming aware that "[the lottery] isn't fair, it isn't right"-pg 9. The lottery has been so much in their lives that they are afraid to leave it. Their poor choices reflect on their identity to be-in our eyes- inhumane.It is like they perceive life to be just a game of luck. Once you get the black dot, your friends and your own family turns on you to be beaten to death. The fear of not following the village ways furthermore provides the lack of life's experiences. One can see a movement of change where "over in the north village [they] [talk] of giving up the lottery." People are starting to question the morals and outcomes of the primitive game. We can hope that the villagers use their global community's experience and actions to reform their own.

The Charmer Blog Response

EQ: How are people transformed through their relationships with others?

Zach was a selfish,manipulative boy who took advantage of his family. He cared so much for himself that the family dynamics fell to pieces. Zach ended up angry and alone once his relationship with his family crumbled. "He just walked out the door without a word." Winnifred and the Dad became stronger individuals with their own values of the family. "Over the years, I've been wondering what to do about forgiveness...Lord Himself wouldn't have wanted us all to just lie down and be walked over." Both Winnifred and her father realized that family members should be grateful for another and obtain equal worthiness. Winnifred eventually learned from her past relationship with her brother; therefore, she did not give in to her own daughter's manipulations. And the mom felt guilty that it was "too late" to change Zach and bring him back home. So "she [then] became senile."- the Charmer.

Picture connection of The Charmer

The crown with jewels represents Zachary and how he had his family(the jewels) to enhance himself. Zachary acted like a king to everyone in his life. And he used his charm to make others follow him and do his errands. He treated his family like slaves.
"I was Zachary's willing slave. Slavery, in fact, was in vogue in our house."
And he even talks like a noble from the 15th century! This kingly image resulted in drama queen behaviours and short tempers. Zachary took his family's money, love, and dignity. And no one of the family stood up for themselves, just like no subject refused a King's order without fear. Zachary only cared for himself, not even one of his own flesh and blood. A family member is just another jewel for him, nothing else.
I made this connection because Zachary- maybe a little exaggerated- had the personality and life of many us in the real world. Our families do so much for our benefit and give no gratitude in return. Like what Zach's Dad said, "Lord Himself wouldn't have wanted us all to just lie down and be walked over".