The Canterbury Tale's Post # 2

For some reason, I really enjoyed the story The Canterbury Tales. Out of all that we read in British Literature, while it may not have been my favorite, it was definitely the most interesting. I especially enjoyed the fact that while there was a lot of different information and description of all of the characters, it was not overwhelming, like it was in The Taming of the Shrew, by William Shakespeare.

All of the characters were so different from one another, and it shows in their little bickering that they all did not get along, especially the Miller and the Reeve. I really liked the fact that everyone wasn't automatically friendly because that is honestly not the way the world works. Not everyone will like one another all the time. I sure don't, even though I try.

I really liked the assignment we were given the option of doing, with us making up our own character and the tale that they would tell if given the chance. I ended up choosing the character of a Southern farmer on his way to Disneyland, who decided to go there to show his ex-wife he could. I decided the moral of his tale would be that one "shouldn't count their chickens before they hatch." This tale was something I really enjoyed writing, because I was given the chance to look through someone's perspective that was completely different from my own.

The Beggar's Opera

While I thought The Beggar's Opera was a good play, I can honestly say that it was not my favorite story we have read in British Literature, though I am very thankful it was the last. This semester has been a busy one, that's for sure.

For some reason, I could really see this play happening today. A man marries a woman but gets his mistress pregnant, and instead of the women hating Macheath for what happened, they mostly blamed each other. That is one thing that confuses me. Why not blame the man? It was him, after all, that got them into the whole mess. But no, women always blame the other woman.

One thing I found particularly interesting was the fact that Peachum was planning to kill Macheath to get some money, even though he knew his daughter was in love with the man. I don't know about anyone else' father's, but I know for sure that my father would not kill the man I loved just because he knew it would hurt me, even if the guy was a complete sleaze like Macheath. But I guess it was different in that time.

What I do know for sure is that I'm thankful the semester is nearly over. I'll have Christmas break to relax and rejuvenate before I have to pick back up on reading literature next semester.

Paradise Lost

When I first heard that we were going to read Paradise Lost, I'll admit I was kind of nervous. After all, religion is a very big part of this story, and I am not a very religious person anymore. I expected that it would been sprouting allusions to the Bible every paragraph and that I would have to keep one beside me at all times to make sure I kept afloat with everything going on in the story. Luckily, I was wrong. Sure, there was a lot of religion in the story, as it was about the fall of man in the garden of Eden. However, it was not nearly as bad as I was thinking it was going to be. In fact, I enjoyed it.

One thing I thought was kind of weird was that while I was reading it I felt as if I was on Satan's side, instead of God's. I was constantly cheering for Satan, even though I know that he is the leader of the bad side. But I guess that's to be expected, as he was basically the protagonist of the story.

I am glad that we read this story though. I feel proud, knowing that I can say I finished it, as it was definitely not the easiest story to read through.

Taming of the Shrew

Out of everything we read in British Literature, The Taming of the Shrew was my favorite, and I'm really glad I used it for my presentation. My favorite thing about the play was Katherina's attitude. Back then, in Shakespeare's time, she would have been the complete opposite of what a girl was expected to be like, but she didn't care at all. She was who she was, even though at times she was definitely pushing it too far, such as in the scene where she struck her sister, Bianca. She knew what she wanted, and she said what she thought. While at times I disliked her in the play, I always had this small layer of respect for her. With Bianca, on the other hand, I wish she had more backbone. I know that in those times she was what a man wanted and all, but it seems to me like she would get boring pretty quick.

What I disliked the most about the play was all of the names of the characters and the fact that several of them were playing dual roles. I mean, how confusing is that? Every time I thought I had one character's roles down, it turns out I had been mistaking Grumio for Gremio or something along those lines. But I guess that's part of the beauty of Shakespeare's works. I also really didn't like the fact that the frame in the play was never finished! That still bothers me a bit. I really wanted to see Sly's reaction to finding out his "wife", who he'd been mooning over since he found out about 'her', was actually a man. But I guess I'll just have to imagine what his reaction would be.

My Everyman Thoughts

When we were first told to read Everyman by the next class period, I was nervous. We had just read The Canterbury Tales for goodness sakes. I expected Everyman was going to be the same: very, very difficult to read and understand. I was pleasantly surprised. Not only was Everyman a play, which makes it easier for me to read, it was interesting. I remember when Everyman first tried to talk Death out of coming after him I understand why he was doing it. I mean, no one really wants to die, do they? Particularly when they are not ready, and I know for sure I'm not ready. I've been spending most of my time on the things that don't really matter, such as material goods, strength, beauty, etc., when I know I should be spending more of my time on my good deeds. This play really made me think more about what's going to happen when I die, and if I am going to be proud of what I left behind.