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Article: 'Would you marry a stranger?' & Responses

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Article: 'Would you marry a stranger?' & Responses

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Text-Dependent Questions:

Q1 - 4: DBDB

Q5: 'How does the author support their central idea regarding arranged marriages?'

A: The author has supported their main idea of arranged marriages can provide somewhat positive affects to family and individuals by describing how love can emerge overtime and benefitting the family. Specifically we can see in the text, where the author states that the arranged marriages does not depend on any feelings before hand, however grows throughout the marriage, she references the 'Rubin Love Scale' from India proving that "the amount of love the couple feels starts relatively low, but it increases over time", Furthermore, based on the studies after a ten year mark, "arranged marriages experienced twice the amount of love as autonomous marriages." and surprisingly, disregarding the dysfunctional and abusive ones, 'those in arranged marriages generally enjoy happier lives and lower divorce rates', which links back and supports the authors idea of arranged marriages can result an even better true love. Moreover, continuing on the article, the author later states that the main reason behind arranged marriages are the well-knowing parents that can help their own child to find a better partner. Considering that, the author explains rather briefly to the readers that in arranging marriages Parents often choose wealthier partners for their daughters to secure financial stability and enhance social standing, as strategic marriages can elevate a family's status, forge political alliances, and resolve past conflicts; or sometimes even as the results of poverty. The author explains that arranged marriages not only can provide a much more stabilized background of marriage, it also might sometimes be beneficial to the parent's background, or even in a larger perspective, benefitting the whole family in social class, or financial abilities.

Discussion Questions:

'Considering the reasons provided by the author, would you ever want your family to choose your spouse for you? Why or why not?'

A: According to the reasons from the article, despite it might seem mostly beneficial for parents to arranges marriages for their children, I believe that it is still important for me to choose my own spouse. Marriage between couples should be their own choice, and therefore for the process of knowing each other should be beforehand of the marriage. Regarding that love might of developed in arranged marriages, it should relate to oneself that the choice of loving is capable or not; as for free marriage, I will have the opportunity to define that by myself. But even though I wouldn't like arranged marriage, listening to parents' advice is valid. I truly understand that parents would have more experiences in judging whether your spouse is proper and suitable for you.

'The article states that love can develop before or after a marriage. Do you think these two types of love are the same, or are they different in some way? How so?'

A: I believe that love can only exist in one way, therefore those 'untruthful' or 'alternative' love shall not be defined as what love is. In my opinion, love is a kind of responsibility, as for when a relationship involves one of each other's responsibility, it becomes love. Nor you might have to admire, but the way that neither of them cannot accept each of anyone's drop-out in life. So in other words, the development of 'love' in this ideology is the responsibility and the reliability that builds up a family, then, emotions form.

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Renaissance Language - Thou & Thee  (and more) 

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Renaissance Language - Thou & Thee  (and more) 

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1. Shakespeare has contributed to literature inventing more than about 1,700 words in English.

2. An example of invention of a word by Shakespeare according to this article is using the prefixes 'un' to create words such as undress and unseat which was introduced to the English language.

3. One skill that you can use for identifying is inferring certain words from the context.

4. For example, using the word 'incarnadine', as we can understand in the context of Macbeth asserts the blood-stained is there to turn the ocean "red", therefore, we can understand that incarnadine is the meaning of a red color.

5. The pronouns 'you' and 'thou' differs at a meaning of formative and informative usage. Also it is used in which characters address one another, revealing crucial information about their relationship.

6. Continuing on the last point of differences of "you" and "thou", for Shakespeare, if he is addressing a servant, he will more than likely use the pronoun "you", since thou, since he is speaking to a lower class therefore the relationship is not yet enough for him to address the servant informally.

7. The reason behind that Shakespeare uses prefixes un- so frequently in Macbeth is because they often express the characters' desires to eradicate certain personality traits.

8. Malapropism is the term for the incorrect usage of one word for another that sounds similar, frequently with humorous results

9. One idiomatic phrased coined by Shakespeare is "part of our own flesh and blood".

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Act 1 Scene 1:

1. The two servants of the Capulet Family bit their finger towards the Montague family, trying to put a blame for the Capulet's servants to be responsible for the fight.

2. Benvolio attempts to calm both sides down while Tybalt does the contrary.

3. The servant's life will be a cost to all of the violence.

4. Romeo feels lost and depressed at the same time. This is because that he had just been rejected by a girl that he loved with all his heart. Later, Benvolio attempts to comfort Romeo by telling him that there will also be girls as good as her in the ball, trying to make him forget about her.

Act 1 Scene 2:

1. Paris asked Lord Capulet for permission to marry his daughter, Juliet; which he responded with approval.

2. Lord Capulet's plan was to introduce her daughter to Paris using an old-accustomed feast.

Act 1 Scene 3:

1. We learned that Juliet seems to trust the nurse which knew her well more than her mother, and therefore the relation ship between Juliet and Lady Capulet are totally out of practice.

2. Juliet was a bit lost since she had never considered about a marriage at a rather young age

3. Lady Capulet has used metaphors such as describing Paris as a flower, and a "fine delight writ there with beauty's pen" etc.

4. Juliet responded to her mother's idea with a tactful matter.

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Notes on Article ‘Should we scoff at the idea of love at first sight?'

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Notes on Article ‘Should we scoff at the idea of love at first sight?'

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Central Idea of this article: The author firstly doesn't want us to make any references to Shakespeare's play, which states that the author does not believe in 'love at first sight'.

Most people still believe in love at first sight in general

Scientific Evidence: According to certain research, we can tell the difference between what occurs in our brains during the earliest stages of attraction, when hormones linked to pleasure, excitement, and anxiety1 prevail, and what occurs during a genuine romantic relationship. When oxytocin and other bonding chemicals take hold. --- however other studies only believe that the 'love' at very first sight might just be a sign of blushing and good feelings.

Shakespeare's Point: Shakespeare shows a detailed way of Romeo and Juliet falling in love at just first sight. However as a play it still holds unrealistic ideas, however can somewhat indicate that sometimes people can feel connections at a very first meet between two first-met people.

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1. The primary focus of the inquiry centers on Shakespeare's portrayal of Juliet as a character whose choices are significantly influenced by external forces, particularly following her awakening to find Romeo deceased. It is essential to explore how Juliet's actions in this critical moment, as well as throughout the narrative, are shaped by the influences of Romeo, her family, and the overarching theme of fate. An analysis of Juliet's character in this scene and throughout the play will reveal the extent to which her autonomy is compromised by these external pressures.

2. In examining the extract, Juliet's immediate and tragic response to discovering Romeo's death underscores her emotional turmoil and sense of powerlessness. Her lamentation over the poison he consumed reflects her anger towards fate and Romeo's unilateral decision to end his life without considering her. This sentiment is further emphasized when she expresses resentment that he left no poison for her, highlighting her dependency on his actions. Her desperate desire to kiss him in hopes of sharing his fate illustrates her reliance on Romeo for direction, culminating in her tragic choice to follow him into death. The momentary surprise at his warmth reveals a fleeting glimmer of hope, which is swiftly extinguished upon the realization of his demise, compelling her to act hastily as the watchmen approach, further illustrating the external pressures that dictate her decisions.

JULIET: "What's here? a cup, closed in my true love's hand? / Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end:"

Juliet's reaction is immediate and tragic. She sees Romeo’s death as the result of poison and blames fate ("timeless end"). This shows her sense of helplessness and emotional response to external forces, i.e., Romeo’s decision to take poison without her knowledge.

"O churl! drunk all, and left no friendly drop / To help me after?"

Her frustration is directed at Romeo, whom she sees as selfish for drinking all the poison. She wishes there was something left for her, showing how her fate is dependent on Romeo's actions.

"I will kiss thy lips; / Haply some poison yet doth hang on them, / To make die with a restorative."

Juliet’s desperation is clear as she hopes that kissing Romeo’s lips might allow her to die with him, showing how she is willing to follow his actions even in death. This suggests Juliet’s dependence on Romeo for her decisions, including her choice to die with him.

"Thy lips are warm."

Juliet’s shock here shows that for a brief moment, she is uncertain. Romeo’s warmth suggests a glimmer of hope, but this is quickly shattered by the reality of his death.

First Watchman: "[Within] Lead, boy: which way?"

The noise of the watchmen approaching forces Juliet to act quickly, indicating an external pressure on her decisions.

"Yea, noise? then I'll be brief. O happy dagger!"

The urgency of the approaching watchmen pushes Juliet to make a final, desperate decision. "O happy dagger!" shows her willingness to die in a moment of desperation, presenting her as determined but still largely influenced by the circumstances around her.

"This is thy sheath; / there rust, and let me die."

Juliet’s final words show how she sees herself as a mere instrument for Romeo’s death. She has no independent agency; her decision to die is driven by the circumstances of Romeo's death, his actions, and the imminent threat of discovery.

in Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare portrays Juliet as someone who makes independent decisions, though these choices are shaped by the pressures of family, society, and her intense love for Romeo. Her decision to die with him, marked by rhetorical questions like "What's here a cup, closed in my true lover's hand?" reflects both her disbelief and determination to join him in death. While this moment seems to show her independence, it is heavily influenced by Romeo's actions. Throughout the play, Juliet also demonstrates independence by defying her family to secretly marry Romeo, rejecting Paris, and taking the risky step of trusting the Friar’s plan to fake her death. While her decisions are often guided by external forces, Juliet still asserts agency at crucial moments, balancing love and personal choice.

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Juliet’s Age and the Paradox of Her Character

Juliet, at just 13 years old, is a complex character caught between innocence and maturity. Despite her youth, she faces life-altering decisions and speaks with profound emotional and intellectual depth, which sets her apart from other characters of her age in Shakespeare’s works. This paradox highlights the tension between her physical age and the weight of her responsibilities, especially as she is still under the control of her parents, which enhances the tragedy of her situation.

Comparison to the Source Material and Her Vulnerability

In contrast to the 16-year-old Juliet in Arthur Brooke’s Romeus and Juliet (1562), Shakespeare’s decision to make Juliet younger makes her even more vulnerable to the control of her family, particularly her father. This shift deepens the tragic irony of the play, as Juliet’s youth underscores her inability to fully control her fate, even as she attempts to defy family expectations and navigate a world pushing her toward adulthood.

Juliet’s Early Depictions and the Role of the Nurse

Juliet’s early scenes in the play emphasize her childlike dependency on her Nurse, who has cared for her since infancy. This relationship contrasts with the expectations her parents place on her, particularly the pressure to marry. The Nurse's maternal presence highlights Juliet's immaturity, reinforcing the central conflict between her desire for autonomy and the societal pressures to mature too quickly. Juliet is still treated as a child by the Nurse, despite being forced into adult roles by her family.\

Juliet’s Intellectual and Poetic Power

One of Juliet’s most striking features is her intellectual and poetic ability, especially when she engages in a sonnet exchange with Romeo at the Capulet ball. This establishes her as an active, intellectual participant in her romance, challenging the traditional passive role women were expected to play in love. Her ability to match Romeo’s poetic language with wit and formality showcases her intelligence and self-expression, highlighting her defiance of gender norms.

Emotional Realism and Agency

Juliet's emotional depth becomes more apparent in the balcony scene (Act 2, Scene 1), where she critiques Romeo’s idealization of love, emphasizing its impulsiveness and risks. This emotional maturity sets her apart from Romeo, who is swept away by idealized notions of love. As the play progresses, Juliet increasingly asserts her agency, particularly when she defies her father in Act 3, Scene 5, refusing to marry Paris and claiming she will marry only Romeo. Despite this defiance, her father’s violent reaction underscores the deep societal constraints on her autonomy.

Juliet’s Intellectual and Poetic Imagination in Crisis

In Act 3, Scene 2, when confronted with the death of Tybalt and her impending marriage to Paris, Juliet’s soliloquy reveals her emotional and intellectual maturity. She imagines the terrifying consequences of her choices—facing death, decay, or waking in a tomb—showing both courage and clarity. This moment underscores her growth from a passive character to someone actively shaping her fate, even if it leads to tragedy.

The Role of the Friar and Juliet’s Limited Agency

Juliet’s decision to turn to the Friar for help reflects the constraints on her agency, as she must submit to male authority figures like the Friar despite her intellectual and emotional growth. Her submission to the Friar, although a sign of her desperation, also highlights the limitations on her freedom within the play’s patriarchal world. Though she is assertive in many ways, she is still subject to male figures to navigate the structures of society and religion.

The Theatre as a Reflection of Cultural Constraints

Juliet’s soliloquy before taking the potion (Act 4, Scene 3) is an emotional and intellectual culmination of her journey, where she contemplates the possible consequences of her actions. Shakespeare’s use of the theatre metaphor here suggests that while Juliet may express herself freely in the play, this freedom is confined to the stage. In reality, young women like Juliet were often silenced, and the play reflects her struggle for agency within the constraints of her society.

Shakespeare’s Exploration of Gender and Female Agency

Juliet’s character allows Shakespeare to explore the limitations placed on women in a patriarchal society. Through her eloquence, emotional depth, and intellectual maturity, she challenges traditional gender roles, embodying qualities typically associated with masculinity, such as rationality and self-expression. Yet, despite her agency, Juliet remains constrained by societal norms, and her tragic end underscores the tension between her autonomy and the restrictive forces around her.

Juliet as a Cultural Icon

Romeo and Juliet has become a cultural myth, and Juliet herself has been adapted in various forms across different media, including opera, ballet, and musicals like West Side Story. While often seen as a symbol of doomed romance, a deeper look at Juliet’s character reveals her as a figure of youthful defiance, intellectual and emotional depth, and a challenge to the patriarchal world. In adaptations, she is portrayed as someone who seeks autonomy but is ultimately trapped by the constraints of her society, making her a lasting symbol of both the potential and limitations of female agency.

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Chapter 2:

"This is a valley of ashes—a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and rising smoke and, finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air."

This description of the Valley of Ashes symbolizes the moral and social decay resulting from the pursuit of wealth. It contrasts sharply with the opulence of East and West Egg, highlighting the disparity between the rich and the poor.

"I’ve got a nice place here," He said, his eyes flashing about restlessly.

Tom’s casual remark about his apartment in the city reflects his wealth and privilege. The apartment is a symbol of his excess and his ability to use money to maintain his affair with Myrtle.

"I married him because I thought he was a gentleman," she said finally. "I thought he knew something about breeding, but he wasn’t fit to lick my shoe."

The Great Gatsby. Chapter 2, Myrtle about George Wilson. She may have loved her husband when they got married, but has since been disappointed by his lack of money and social status. Now she feels stifled by her twelve-year marriage. Myrtle’s dissatisfaction with her husband, George Wilson, stems from his lack of wealth and social status. Her affair with Tom represents her desire to escape her lower-class life and attain the luxury she associates with money.

Chapter 3:

"There was music from my neighbor’s house through the summer nights. In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars."

Gatsby’s extravagant parties are a testament to his immense wealth and his desire to attract Daisy’s attention. The opulence of these gatherings underscores the theme of money as a tool for social climbing and self-reinvention.

"The bar is in full swing, and floating rounds of cocktails permeate the garden outside, until the air is alive with chatter and laughter, and casual innuendo and introductions forgotten on the spot, and enthusiastic meetings between women who never knew each other’s names."

This description of Gatsby’s party captures the materialism and hedonism of the Jazz Age, where wealth and excess dominate social interactions.

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What is it?

An allusion refers to a mention of a place, event, location, or work of art or literature that is well-known or culturally associated. Writers often make use of allusions in order to enhance the meaning of their writing or richness, tying it to something larger or to a particular moment in history.

How do writers use it?

Allusions are used by authors to create specific impressions or feelings by referring to something the reader may be acquainted with. Allusions can enrich a narrative by adding more layers of meaning to it. For example, an allusion to mythology, religious texts, or popular literature can have themes of morals, fate, or societal condemnation.

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Allusion within The Valley of Ashes from The Great Gatsby

New Idea:

I hadn't realized how Fitzgerald suggests that even the most good of characters can be corrupted by the world around them. The Valley of Ashes setting is used to point out the corruption and moral emptiness which infects the universe of The Great Gatsby. Characters like Nick, who are introduced initially as being more moral and self-aware, are still pulled into the disillusionment of their own society, so their struggles with morality are more complex.

Increased Understanding:

The criticism made me realize that power is not just destructive—it is also a test of a character's true nature. Both in The Great Gatsby and The Waste Land, the environment and circumstance expose the flaws of the characters, turning them into "zombies" of society, as mentioned in the article. I hadn't realized the extent to which the Valley of Ashes is a symbol of spiritual barrenness, as with the "unreal city" in Eliot's poem. The comparison lets off the fuller sense of how both works are reflections of the emotional desiccation of their time.

Reflections on the Analysis:

The idea that the "eyes of Doctor T. J. Eckleburg" symbolize an uncaring, faceless God made me think more about the theme of morality in The Great Gatsby.

Fitzgerald satirizes a society without spiritual guidance or higher values. The allusion to Eliot's The Waste Land, and the figure of Tiresias as the "all-seeing eye," also complicates the role of the Doctor's eyes so that the characters in the novel are spiritually blind even though they are observed. This enhances my comprehension of the novel's satire of contemporary society.

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a) How has Fitzgerald used language to present Nick’s reflections on Gatsby’s car?

In Chapter 4, Fitzgerald uses vivid imagery and detailed descriptions to present Nick’s reflection on Gatsby's car. Nick’s observation of the car focuses on its extravagance and excess, emphasizing Gatsby’s conspicuous consumption. He describes the car as having a "rich cream color," gleaming "bright with nickel," and possessing an exaggerated, "monstrous length." The car is adorned with "triumphant" features such as “hatboxes,” “supper-boxes,” and “toolboxes,” which serve little functional purpose but contribute to its ostentatious appearance. Through these exaggerated descriptions, Fitzgerald underscores the theme of superficiality versus reality, showing that Gatsby prioritizes appearances over practicality. The car becomes a symbol of his excessive wealth and desire to flaunt his social status, a key component of his identity that he wishes to project to the world.

b) What do we learn about Gatsby from Nick’s meeting with him and Nick’s observations? How does this compare to what Nick learns about him at the party in Chapter 3?

In Chapter 4, we learn that Gatsby is a complex and multi-faceted character. He is portrayed as a self-styled gentleman with a carefully crafted persona, desperate to control the narrative surrounding his past. Gatsby fabricates elaborate stories about his background, claiming to be from a wealthy Midwestern family and to have received medals for bravery in the war, even saying that his entire family is dead. However, Nick begins to see through these exaggerations, recognizing that Gatsby’s version of events is unreliable. This reveals Nick’s growing awareness and a sense of security in his own social position, as he is able to see through Gatsby’s attempts at self-mythologizing. In contrast, in Chapter 3, Nick is mesmerized by Gatsby’s charm and charisma, almost idolizing him. Nick admires Gatsby's smile and is enchanted by his mysterious aura, reflecting his initial impression of Gatsby as a larger-than-life figure. The contrast between Nick's initial adoration and his later skepticism highlights the development of Nick’s perception of Gatsby, from admiration to a more critical, if still fascinated, view. As Nick describes, “He hurried the phrase ‘educated at Oxford,’ or swallowed it, or choked on it, as though it had bothered him before,” suggesting Gatsby’s discomfort with the lies he tells.

c) What does Jordan reveal about Daisy and Gatsby’s relationship?

Jordan Baker reveals to Nick the history of the romantic relationship between Daisy and Gatsby. Before Gatsby went to war, the two were deeply in love, but Daisy ultimately married Tom Buchanan, a man who, despite his infidelities and flaws, represented the established social order. Jordan recounts a moment when Daisy, after receiving a letter from Gatsby, became emotionally overwhelmed and hysterical. This moment of emotional intensity shows the depth of Daisy's feelings for Gatsby, but also reflects the theme of superficiality versus reality. Daisy chooses Tom, who is wealthy and socially accepted, over Gatsby, who, despite his apparent wealth, represents something new and uncertain in society. Daisy’s choice exposes the conflict between idealized love and the harsh reality of social expectations. Jordan describes how Daisy cried uncontrollably, clutching the letter, symbolizing the emotional tug-of-war between her love for Gatsby and the pressures of her reality. This episode underscores Daisy’s inner conflict, her longing for an idealized version of love, and her eventual submission to the practical and socially advantageous choice in Tom.