thespokenbook-blog

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Commonplace Book Reflection

Consistently within the five-week period, my analysis takes a feminist approach. This is the critical lense I prefer. I don’t force this particular lense on every work I encounter, but I definitely find myself leaning towards it. What makes this critical lense easier to utilize is the misogynistic view of women present in many of the works we have read in class. The topic of gender roles and the constant references to the patriarchal dynamics allow me to indulge in the lense I prefer.

    The first work I chose from week 6 involves the criticism of the Wife of Bath. She is scorned by society for having multiple husbands and attempts to justify herself throughout the entire work. In the Lottery, a woman goes to draw a lot for her husband, only to be stopped in a condescending manner. Midsummer’s Night Dream begins with Egeus scorning his daughter for falling in love without his permission, threatening her in front of King Theseus. Later on in the plot, Oberon manipulates his wife with an herb that forces her to fall in love with Bottom, who wears a donkey’s head. There are works that do not have substantial room for me to analyze them through this critical lense. These include Cat Pictures Please, the General Prologue, and the Summer People.

     In the Summer People, the malicious intent of humans against their own are addressed, where an elderly couple is sabotaged by those they thought they could trust. The Allisons disregard the summer people’s advice and overextend their stay, which leads to an ominous ending. The audience reads as the summer people ostracizes the couple, leaving them to fend for themselves. 

     The common theme of human relationships continues with the General Prologue. The strict hierarchy established within this society restricts the opportunities in which the characters are able to interact regularly. However, these boundaries are set aside as the characters all gather to immigrate. Chaucer makes sure to focus on each individual character to allow for their quirks to emphasized. 

     Frankenstein involves the abusive relationship between the Monster and his creator. Though he condemns Dr. Frankenstein from bringing him to life, the Monster mourns his death and spends most of his life tormenting him. If one were to analyze it through the perspective of the Monster, Dr. Frankenstein is the one who refuses to own up to his mistakes, allowing innocent bystanders to suffer. 

     The interaction between the characters in Midsummer Night Dream is just as unhealthy, if not the most. While many of the characters are magical, they still strive to torment each other excessively. The Wife of Bath surrounds her peculiar relationships with her many husbands and in the Lottery, the voluntary stoning of one townsperson is executed for the supposed good of the community. 

      All the works focus on the idiosyncrasies of humans as well as how they impact each other, usually negatively. In Cat Pictures Please, the AI narrates in frustration about the nature of humans and questions their inexplicable actions. This work focuses more on how humans negatively affect their own personal growth. The other works involve the interaction of humans and try to justify the motives behind their actions. 

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Week 11: Frankenstein Chapter IV to the End

     “Beautiful!—Great God! His yellow skin scarcely covered the work of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxuriances only formed a more horrid contrast with his watery eyes, that seemed almost of the same colour as the dun white sockets in which they were set, his shrivelled complexion, and straight black lips.” 

     Wow. Yet another beauty standard I’ll never live up to. It’s amazing how fast Victor changes his mind as the monster awakens. I’m not sure how drastic of a difference the Monster appears to him as he’s brought to life. Shouldn’t the same yellow skinned creature with the lustrous black hair be even more appealing than it was dead?

     “Yet you, my creator, detest and spurn me, thy creature, to whom thou art bound by ties only dissoluble by the annihilation of one of us. You purpose to kill me. How dare you sport thus with life?”

     I’m glad the Monster finally called Victor out for his attempt to play God, only to regret his decision immediately. What Victor fails to realize is this is an actual creature he brought into existence, he can’t just discard it like a toy. There are severe consequences to his actions and he is still unwilling to confront them.

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Week 11: Frankenstein Through Volume I Chapter IV

     “He was not, as the other traveller seemed to be, a savage inhabitant of some undiscovered island, but an European.”

     This was one of the few instances I found the theme of colonialism in the text. I thought it was interesting that the traveler, Victor, was not seen as a savage after they assumed he was European. Conquered land is civilized and unconquered land is savagery.

     “When my father became a husband and a parent, he found his time so occupied by the duties of his new situation, that he relinquished many of his public employments, and devoted himself to the education of his children.”

     It’s rare to see the depiction of the father taking care of his children in older works. Usually, the mother is expected to sacrifice her career for the sake of raising her children.

     “She joined the hands of Elizabeth and myself: “My children,” she said, “my firmest hopes of future happiness were placed on the prospect of your union.”

     I’m sure the last thing he wants to hear from his mother on her deathbed is for her blessing to marry his niece. 

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Week 10: Cat Pictures Please - Naomi Kritzer

     If I listed all my favorite quotes from this article, the entire article would be copied and pasted here. I’m definitely not going to do that. There were countless one-liners that made me snort while I was reading. Who knew this AI would be so quirky?

     “In addition to things like whether you like hentai, I know where you live, where you work, where you shop, what you eat, what turns you on, what creeps you out. I probably know the color of your underwear, the sort of car you drive, and your brand of refrigerator. Depending on what sort of phone you carry, I may know exactly where you are right now. I probably know you better than you know yourself.”

     This was probably one of my favorites. It appears near the beginning paragraphs of the article and took me completely off guard. Needless to say, I was shook. It’s endearing and horrifying at the same time. The more I read it, the more endearing and horrifying it gets. I connected the AI to Big Brother in 1984 countless times as I was reading the article. The only difference is that Big Brother has its own interests at heart. This AI, on the other hand, genuinely cares for the well beings of the individuals it stalks! Typing that felt like a heft oxymoron. AI is incredibly creepy...but in a good way? It’ll probably recommend someone tasteful hentai and help them get the adequate mental healthcare they need. 

     “Depression is treatable, new jobs are findable, and bodies can be hidden. (That part about hiding bodies is a joke.)”

     At this point in the article, this AI just sounds like an exasperated therapist. It also sounds like a person who gave amazing advice to their friend only to watch their friend disregards everything and continue spiraling downhill. The thing is AI does not understand human nature. It doesn’t understand the concept behind why humans don’t simply get the help they need. There are innate idiosyncrasies humans have that will never make sense to the AI. 

“I’ve set up a dating site. You can fill out a questionnaire when you join but it’s not really necessary, because I already know everything about you I need to know. You’ll need a camera, though. Because payment is in cat pictures.“

     If I knew for certain that this AI was not Big Brother reincarnated, I would gladly hand over the stressful parts of my life, dating, school, and mental health, over to it gladly. With the internet at my fingertips, I have infinite cat pictures to pay it! I’ll probably regret typing this in a few seconds after it takes over my laptop though. 

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Week 9: Midsummer Night’s Dream - Thisbe and Pyramus

     Though I didn’t understand the concept of it at first, as the scene of the Rude Mechanicals was placed after the plot involving the two couples was resolved, I learned to appreciate the play within a play after watching Emma Rice’s production execute it. It’s a nice comic relief to follow the main conflict. It seems almost mundane to follow the conflict with fairies and magical creatures with the Rude Mechanicals, but it works somehow. 

     “I kiss the wall's hole, not your lips at all.“

     It’s interesting that the wall is played by an actual actor, as the romance between Thisbe and Pyramus has to include it. This definitely added to the comedic effect in the Emma Rice production as they struggle to keep in contact through the hole in the wall. The star-crossed lover theme with the presence of the wall reminded me of this gif Tenth Doctor and Rose. I thought it was an adequate comparison! This quote, in particular, draws out the amount of presence the wall has in Thisbe’s and Pyramus’ relationship, making it a sort of polyamorous relationship.

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Week 9: Midnight Summer’s Dream - Oberon’s Herb

     “Fetch me that flower, the herb I showed thee once.”

     This quote is from the scene in which Oberon asks Puck to retrieve an herb that causes infatuation of whatever one lays their eye on. This seems to be a drug he’s familiar with. What purpose did this have prior? What led him to utilize this on Titania to enact his revenge? What intrigued me was how comfortable he was planning this elaborate plan. 

     The nature of his plan did not completely register with me until the scene was acted out in the Emma Rice production we viewed in class. The scene itself suggests something more sinister. The picture I’ve attached shows Oberon administering the herb on an unconscious Titania. It seems as if he’s using a drug to manipulate and take advantage of his wife. The herb is could also be compared to a modern-day date rape drug. Titania, against her will, is enamored at the sight of Bottom wearing the donkey head. 

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Week 8: Midsummer Night’s Dream - Act 1

     “Hippolita, I wooed thee with my sword.”

     When I read this, I was sure this was another one of Shakespeare’s dirty jokes, thinly concealed. I may have overestimated the extent to which he would implement jokes, however. It’s just Theseus rubbing in Hippolita’s face that he managed to woo her. Still, this would have been a great dirty joke. 

     “This man hath bewitched the bosom of my child.”

     I’m aware of the context of this quote surrounds Egeus complaining to Theseus about Hermia’s forbidden romance with Lysander, but I can’t help but imagine Lysander actually casting a spell to bewitch Hermia’s bosom off her body. I suppose Egeus did not mean his words in a literal sense and meant Lysander stole his daughter's heart away from her betrothed, Demetrius. One way to get your daughter not to marry the man you approve of is to publicly shame her in front of the king and accuse her boyfriend of bewitching her bosom.

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Week 7: The Summer People by Shirley Jackson

    "But I never heard of anyone ever staying out at the lake after Labor Day before."

    I think anyone could tell after this phrase was repeated several times throughout the story that the Allisons had an ominous future awaiting them. This phrase belongs in an old horror film, in which the naive protagonist is unaware of the blatant clues left by the killer tracking them. There seems to be a bit of dramatic irony present as the audience recognizes the fate of the couple. Despite the countless inhabitants of the town discouraging the couple from staying, they insisted.

     Though I do not condone abandoning an elderly couple and sabotaging their chances of survival, I do understand how the summer people felt. The Allisons expected workers, who usually leave when visitors return home, to stay and pander to their needs. In this sense, they are portrayed as selfish individuals who fail to understand the dynamics of the town.

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Week 7: The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

     When I first read this short story, I was genuinely confused as to what everyone was making a fuss about. Call me naive, but I was convinced they were drawing names for an actual lottery. As I finished the short story, however, I recognized Jackson’s central message. I couldn’t help but also relate it to our current political state.

     “Me. I guess,” a woman said, and Mr. Summers turned to look at her. “Wife draws for her husband.” Mr. Summers said, “Don’t you have a grown boy to do it for you, Janey?”

    The dystopian society set up was complemented with the ominous tone of the narration as the plot played out. The hostility present was obvious as I read how women were addressed. One scene, in particular, shows a woman volunteering to draw for her husband, who was not present. Mr. Summers interjects and asks her if she had a “grown boy do it for her.” What should be noted is that the woman remained unnamed until Mr. Summers addresses her. What’s even more interesting is that he asks if she has a “grown boy” to draw for her husband, as if a grown woman drawing is horrifying enough.

    Overall, I recognized the conservative tones of honoring tradition in the short story. For the most part, the old and male characters were the individuals who were advocates of the Lottery. If anyone suggested the discontinuation of the ritual, they would argue that the lottery has always been a part of life in the community and that discontinuing it would engender adverse consequences. Old Man Warner was a vocal advocate for the lottery and regarded the concept change in disdain.

     “Nothing but trouble in that,” Old Man Warner said stoutly.

     The central theme of this short story could definitely be compared to modern-day situations in which older generations chastise the younger generations for the change they demand. I think this was Jackson’s main intent for writing the short story as she explores the adverse effects of condemning change.

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 Week 6: The General Prologue - Chaucer

    “...a pilgrimage was the one occasion in medieval life when so wide a range of members of society could plausibly join together on relatively equal terms.”

    This story discusses indirectly the strict hierarchy in medieval times; individuals outside of their own social classes might have had difficulty meeting. This encompasses the main theme of the story as this band of misfits and pious individuals are brought together. This might be an incredibly terrible comparison but I was reminded of the Breakfast Club in this sense. 

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Week 6: Canterbury Tales - Wife of Bath

     When I read the different versions regarding the Wife of Bath, the first thing that came to mind was how much of a hot mess the plot surrounding her was. It’s amazing how she endured the obstacles thrown her way. Through the Wife of Bath’s Prologue, she defends her marriages and describes a particularly abusive husband who beats her until she is deaf. After reading about this incident, I was made aware of how insignificant abuse was regarded in marital spats. How they managed to move past this incident is beyond me.

     Don’t get me wrong, the Wife of Bath herself is a total badass, especially how Patience Agbabi narrated her tale in Wife of Bafa. Her rendition of the character was without a doubt my favorite out of all the versions. She identifies herself as a business woman and acknowledges the femme fatale persona those around her have given her. My favorite line without a doubt is “my father had four wives / so I've had five husbands.” To counter the misogynistic view of women and sex, Agbabi emphasizes the number of husbands the Wife of Bath has, empowering her even. There's something inherently badass about a woman who acknowledges the strict roles society carefully molds for her and sticking a red polished middle finger to it.

     Art: The Wife of Bath - ToscaSam