Another Question

One thing I didn't understand in this week's reading (chapters 36-44) was when Magwitch tells Pip the story of his life and he talks about Compeyson's background as well. Compeyson's friend, Arthur (Miss Havisham's brother) sees a vision of Miss Havisham. He is deathly afraid of her, and says she is trying to put her shroud on him (and will at 5 in the morning). This whole incident is a little confusing to me. Does Arthur really see a ghost of Miss Havisham? Compeyson says this is impossible, since she is still living. So if Arthur really imagined the whole thing, how did he die?

Great Expectations: Question About Estella

One part of Great Expectations I didn't understand was on page 226, chapter 33. It is when Estella arrives at London and Pip takes her to tea. When asked why she will be going to Richmond, Estella replies:

"I am going to live at a great expense, with a lady there, who has the power - or says she has - of taking me about, and introducing me, and showing people to me and showing me to people."

I understand that Estella will be living there to be introduced to the "high-society" people there, and to learn her way around, but I don't understand why. Throughout the story, Miss Havisham is trying to throw Pip and Estella together (mainly so Estella can break his heart), so why would Miss Havisham send Estella away to Richmond, especially if she might meet new people and fall in love with someone else?

Great Expectations: Photo Post

I chose this photo of a bridge because it represents Pip's journey throughout his life. Pip is given the opportunity to step out of (what he thinks of as) the shadows of his old life as a blacksmith and into the sunlight of his new life as a gentleman. Pip boldly takes this leap, although there might be hardships on the path ahead. Part of his "great expectations" will require always traveling forward on the path, and never looking back. This might be hard for Pip in the future, and he might find that he should have cherished those younger days more. Pip will soon discover what the path laid out before him by his great expectations will really mean for his life.

Great Expectations: The First Stage

Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns of flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day.

Pip's clever analogy refers to different paths one may choose in life. Once the first "link" is formed and the "chain" begins to grow, there is no going back. For Pip, this first link is forged when he visits Miss Havisham for the first time. Pip's peculiar and unexpected experiences at Miss Havisham's results in a myriad of new feelings. After becoming accustomed to the fine, high class luxuries of Miss Havisham's mansion, Pip feels ashamed and self-conscious of his own home. He is slightly obsessed with Miss Havisham and Estella and his short visit with them. He keeps thinking about his visit constantly and can't wait to go back.

When I was ten years old, I went to Cascades Camp as a camper for the first time. Although I had visited with my family before, this was different. I would stay in a cabin with a counselor and several other girls. Not knowing anybody at first left me feeling lonely and homesick, but as the days and week progressed, I made many friends and had the best experience of my life. By the end of the week, I was confident and open with all my new friends. Every summer since that first week at Cascades, I have returned to camp. I hope my chain will stretch into the future when I can become a counselor myself.

Group Essay

Thesis: The strongest of relationships can make it through even the most dramatic and unexpected catastrophies. In The Importance of Being Earnest, a play written by Oscar Wilde, three durable relationships have connections stronger than the obstacles they must overcome. Algernon and Cecily, Jack and Gwendolen, and Miss Prism and Chasuble have similar characteristics that naturally draw each couple together.

Each and every one of the relationships in The Importance of Being Earnest has overcome obstacles. Perhaps the most mature relationship in the play is between two middle-aged adults of the working class. Even before Miss Prism and Chasuble express their love for each other, they subtly break down barriers just to spend more time together. Miss Prism makes up a headache, which is an excuse to be with Chasuble. Even though Miss Prism obviously doesn't really have a headache, and Chasuble most likely knows this, he doesn't object. Miss Prism and Chasuble often also flirt and drop hints to say that they are interested in each other. Miss Prism advises Dr. Chasuble that he should get married. Miss Prism and Chasuble display in this conversation that their personalities are similar. They are forward with their feelings without being candid. One of the biggest obstacles in relationships are personalities that clash. After finding out that Miss Prism didn't have a child out of wedlock, Chasuble and Miss Prism embrace each other. Their feelings are finally revealed. There are no linger any secrets between Miss Prism and Reverend Chasuble, and the two freely express their love for each other.

Each of my concrete details and commentaries ties back to the theme of obstacles that are overcome.

The Importance of Being Earnest/Victorian Research

In Victorian English times, women were treated unfairly with fewer opportunities than men. This started at a very young age. While the boys learned math and law, the girls were taught French, drawing, dancing, and music. Girls might also learn sewing or needlework. In most cases, their entire schooling was at home with a governess. Job opportunities for lower-class women were limited as well. Some job possibilities for a lower-class Victorian woman might be baking, seamstressing, being a domestic servant, working in a textile and clothing factory, or being a laundry worker. Even though upper-class women didn’t work, they were still treated poorly.

This poor treatment of women is reflected in Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. Victorian women had little or no say in their life choices. One such woman is Gwendolen, who expresses, “Few parents nowadays pay any regard to what their children say to them” (53). Not only did parents not listen to their children, these parents offered their daughters no choice in whether or not to get engaged. On page 44 of the play, Lady Bracknell scolds Gwendolen, “Pardon me, you are not engaged to anyone. When you do become engaged to some one, I, or your father, should his health permit him, will inform you of the fact.” It is completely up to Gwendolen’s parents to choose her husband, and once a husband is chosen, it will be up to him to make the rest of her life choices. Although upper-class women were free of the hardships of working, they still were unequal to men.

2010 Resolution

When I think back over the past year and consider what I would like to do differently this year, a few things come to mind. One is to get more physical activity. From the time I was in preschool until eighth grade, I played soccer on a rec league. The team I had stayed with the whole time (Blue Ice) quit playing together. I missed going to practices in the evening after finishing my homework and burning off the steam had built inside me all day. Now with much more homework than before and more time consuming activities, I don't get much time to exercise.

This next year, I would like to change that and get at least two hours of physical activity each week (not counting PE). I can accomplish this in a variety of ways. Some ideas are to work out at the YMCA, go for walks or jogs or to just go outside and shoot hoops. I could exercise during family activties, too, such as going on hikes. Even though there may be come weeks where it is nearly impossible to get two hours of exercise in, I could strive to make it up the next week so that it averages out to two hours. I hope I can make my ambition to become physically active last throughout the year 2010.