The Big Reveal

I think a fear many of us humans share is the fear of our true selves. Have we really been acquainted with our actual inner thoughts and character? A lot of people live in a trance and are consumed with their constant lives, where they don't really consider this though, similar to Dorian Grey in the beginning of The Picture of Dorian Grey. Dorian, also was innocent before his mind was strayed to other thoughts he had never considered thinking before by the genius Lord Henry. But the difference in this situation than any other regular human that has changed their mindset to being like Dorian's in the novel is that Dorian is able to bring his thoughts into his action without being changed.

Because Dorian was given this ability to commit these horrid actions that reflects his inner self without consequence, the terror of these actions had no affect on his mind. This gave him a feeling of power and fearlessness. If all humans were given the chance Dorian received, which is the ability to reveal your inner self through not only thoughts but actions without consequence in return (although in the end he does face death, but some argue that is not substantial enough to constitute for all he has done) what would it reveal in each of us. It's a scary thought to see the true thoughts and desires that are hidden beneath inside every human. There would probably be mostly power and ambitious actions that are violence based. We can see even in today actions of governments, media, and people the hunger of power that lies beneath the cover up. But with no consequence the cover up would slide away.

I'm not saying the whole world is full of evil power craving crazies although a good amount is. I am just pointing out what we as humans would do if we could show our true selves with no consequence. But because of evil, it creates a fear in us of confronting ourselves. what are we afraid of? being so evil we can't control or evilness I don't know no one knows because Dorian Grey doesn't exist and these types of confrontations are very rare. The confrontations that do occur in todays world are mostly of the evil power craving type, I'm sure many examples pop into your head. Maybe if we weren't so afraid of what evil is there inside of us we might possibly be able to see the good hidden underneath with the evil too.

Work Force and Women

A large issue that has been continuously present in history and persistently present in todays society is equality. Whether it's for women or those of colored skin equality is still a goal for many of us we are striving to enforce and implicate in our society so there is no longer any room for inequality. As we see in the essay written by Virginia Woolf "A Room of One's Own" she speaks the truth of women and women literature back in her time period. And although the essay was written almost 100 years ago, her points and statements she make are still alive in our society today.

An issue Woolf addresses in her essay is how women were not given the equal opportunity of success as men have received, this is where she derives the purpose of having a room of one's own. Now a lot of us would say both men and women all have an equal opportunity now a days in society, right? Wrong. Specifically in the work force this is still a very present issue.

According to studies women earn approximately 77 cents for every dollar men earn. But some might say well that has nothing to do with equal opportunity? But money has everything to do with equal opportunity, according to Woolf. Woolf makes sure to bring up multiple times that without money one cannot possibly be successful.

Another problem in the work force is the influence women receive. According to studies done in 2002 women were only 10.8 percent of all engineers; 1.4 percent of all auto mechanics; 1.8 percent of all carpenters; 30.6 percent of all doctors; and 29.2 percent of all lawyers. These statistics create fear in women, who wants to go somewhere they aren't welcomed? These statistics need to change, until then equality will continue to drag on in the work force. And by a change in the statistics I'm not expecting a perfect 50/50 but there is a large gap between these numbers, and this occurrence is not just by chance.

Women Oppression

                Unfortunately, women oppression is still widely present in the world among us. Whether it appears in the physical form, verbal form, or societal form it is present throughout every country.

                Although it is not as pertinent in the United States as other countries, middle eastern countries per say, Americans also deal with women oppression. Specifically in the area of society, where women are still struggling for equality. This struggle is seen in literature through The Awakening, where Edna is stuck in an average American family and discovers that she has her own wishes and desires other than what has been implicated on her.

                Women in the Middle East experience women oppression through all three variables physically, verbally, and through their society. The society in the Middle East set women lower than men, where women are given much less rights than men. Rights such as education, where education is less available for women than it is for men. In the book A Thousand Splendid Suns, women oppression is shown through two amazing stories, Laila’s and Marian’s. The book not only unveils women oppression in the Middle East but also the strength these women have to persevere and remain strong for their children and the people they love. I truly admire the ability these women have to experience such oppression and continue to move on.

                It is important for us to not ignore women oppression, women are just as human as men there is no reason for any higher acclamation of either. Men are not greater than women, and women are not greater than men. This needs to be recognized entirely throughout the world, because where this mentality is not present, others are provoked.

Prufrock's Fear in today's culture

The poem "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" speaks of a lonesome man scared to be loved. He fears he is not adequate enough for the women of his days. Not only does he believe he is not physically qualified but he also fears he is not meant to "disturb the universe". In my opinion I believe Prufrock is making outrageous excuses to avoid admitting what his true fear is. He is afraid of love, to be loved, what love will do and how it will affect him. Another big fear of love is if it is lost after it is gained. This fear of love is present in society just as much today as it was with Prufrock in the early 1900's.

I believe the fear of love can be developed through experiences where love was mistreated. I also believe that the fear can be developed in oneself, either through avoidance of love or a grown fear. Today love deserves the fear that Prufrock had. I say this because love is used so carelessly now. Marriages fall apart only for those who got divorced to remarry and be divorced again, repeating the same abuse of love and not realizing the image of love they are creating not only for those around them but themselves. Not only marriages but relationships abuse the beauty of love also, it is unconsidered and replaced with selfish desires leading to a destroyed relationship and those in the relationship.

Love now consist of disloyalty, unhonesty, imprudence, and emptiness. No wonder why Prufrock was so scared to put himself out there no one wants a failed attempt at love.

The Purposeless Purpose

The Purposeless Purpose

Many people, when they read “Waiting for Godot” are appalled at the babble and confusion of the play. There seems to be no purpose, so viewers or readers react in disapproval. Maybe the actual purpose of the play, is what would seem impossible, to have no purpose.

Every day in the human world each individual that is alive is doing something for a purpose. There is a purpose, it seems, for everything. “Waiting for Godot” is the exact example of not having a purpose rather than to show there is no purpose. Let’s think for example the main reason why Estragon and Vladimir were at the tree in the road, they were waiting for Godot. Their purpose to be there at that certain point around the specific time was to see Godot. Waiting for Godot was the thrive of their existence, these lines from the play are an example of Godot’s strong role in their current lives “VLADIMIR: We have to come back tomorrow. ESTRAGON: What for? VLADIMIR: To wait for Godot.”

Estragon and Vladimir’s conversation often had no point whatsoever. Usually they would ask each other questions, almost purposeful questions, and would answer each other in an obscure manner or quickly change to another topic. An example of this purposeless babble is “VLADIMIR: He said by the tree. (They look at the tree.) Do you see any others? ESTRAGON: What is it? VLADIMIR: I don't know. A willow. ESTRAGON: Where are the leaves? VLADIMIR: It must be dead. ESTRAGON: No more weeping.” This type of dialogue almost pokes fun at humanity in a way. It makes fun of the way we do things and why we do them and do them in that way.

As humans it is natural for us to always search for a purpose, because without a purpose we feel purposeless and empty. No man wants to feel that way, it is one of the most despaired feelings to be lonely inside. This is why when there is no purpose, it is looked upon as almost crazy. But what most people miss because of their purpose determined-selves is that the purpose can be purposeless.

 

Two Sides to Every Story

After completing Beowulf and reading a partial section of Grendel, my opinion for both characters have changed. I say this because Beowulf showed Grendel as a vicious enemy who has always been an evil wicked monster. But in Grendel it portrays Grendel how he truly is and the reasons for his actions. 

I believe there is a reason for every action that someone commits. Although that does not mean that the action is justified. In Beowulf, Grendel terrorizes the Danes in a violent manner, by murdering many of their men. Beowulf in turn, kills Grendel to stop his actions. If you were only to read Beowulf  you would think that Grendel was a wicked monster who had no feelings for others and solly cared for himself. But Grendel says otherwise.

In the short part of Grendel that I can read it completely changed my view of Grendel himself. Grendel views the Danes as monsters because they kill for no reason, not even for consumption. They would kill animals and pike them up to let them rot. They would kill each other. They were wasteful people and this confused Grendel greatly. Grendel then when to the mead hall, but was attacked. In Grendel it says all he wanted was someone to talk to. 

I think it is important always to hear two sides of the story. Even though Grendel was still in the wrong for murdering all of those men, there was innocence and good in him. He was denied from the Danes, he wasn't excepted in their society, so he felt the only way out for him was to become a figure of fear. This could of been prevented if only he was excepted. But we even see this today in our society, people who feel they are different sometimes become angry at others and will commit rationalized actions in reaction to not being excepted. It is important to not judge someone until you hear the truth behind it all.

The "American Dream" as related to Peekay

 

Peekay in the Power Of One is a young boy with one single ambition, that is to become the welter weight champion of the world. He dreams of this goal day and night and will not rest until he has conquered it. But the one thing he refuses to do is depend on others to reach this goal, he wishes to do everything independently and come out successful. Similar to what America is known for, reaching your own goal by yourself, you can do anything you'd like in America. But this is not as easy as it is for Peekay.

 

Millions of people today are struggling to survive and feed themselves or families. They are working for under $10 an hour trying to pull through the day. Along with this are thousands of dreams dying. How can you achieve anything when you're barely surviving as now. The government is more involved in assisting citizens now than it has ever been. Our tax money is feeding all of the federal corporations paying for basic needs of the lower class.Today, the United States actually has a higher percentage of workers doing low wage work than any other major industrialized nation does. Why is this happening to America or more specifically the "lower class" citizens?

 

The thing is no one can achieve a large goal with out the help of others or stepping over others. Peekay in his fictional perfect life story almost always was independent and achieved everything through himself, hence forth the power of one. But we are human we are meant to work together or if not there would only be one of us. Help and aid is necessary for us all, but just as Peekay we can not depend upon everything through a different source than ourselves.  Peekay is an inspiration for independence and finding the power or motivation through yourself, but it is so important to value the help and aid of others and learn when you don't need it and you do.

 

America is giving so many revenues for people to avoid improving, now I understand that some situation just can't be helped but ultimately if America is "supplying" for so much of its population there's something wrong here. America is encouraging dependence on none other but itself, statistics like the number of Americans on food stamps has grown from 17 million in the year 2000 to more than 47 million today and  According to the most recent numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau, 49.2 percent of all Americans are receiving benefits from at least one government program show America's welcoming to citizen dependency. Yes as a country the government is responsible for helping it's citizens, but there are plenty of unnecessary organizations that could be prevented if encouraged.

 

To improve oneself or reach a specific goal whether it is a new job or become an artist you are going to have to depend upon someone for help, you can try to achieve it alone but will find it extremely difficult and perhaps even fail. The American government is here to provide aid you through your life, but to much dependency can cause harm to the system eventually affecting the economy and the people as a whole.