Previous Journal Entries

1.) King Lear
Today, We read Act 1 of King Lear. Although humorous, the first act successfully draws in the reader with its serious underlying messages about hatred, slyness, and mistreatment of family. We first learn that King Lear has 3 daughters; Their names are Cordelia, Goneril, and Regan. King Lear is seen as prideful, as he asks all of the daughters to profess their love for him and the one who is the most appealing would be granted a majority of the kingdom. This stirs conflict between the sisters as  Goneril and Regan appease their father's wishes. However, Cordelia is willing to show her love for her father through actions and not words alone. King Lear is upset about this and disowns Cordelia. Another important highlight of Act 1 is the relationship between Glocester and his son, Edmund. Edmund is referred to as "illegitimate" and "a bastard". Glocester worships his other son, Edgar. He claims that Edgar was intended and Edmund was not. Edmund wants his father to see his good qualities, so formulates a plan to essentially hoodwink his brother, which will lead his father to believe that Edgar is no better than Edmund.
2.) The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue
The Canterbury Tale, General Prologue introduced 26 characters; All of which, including the narrator, are on a pilgrimage to a cathedral in Canterbury. Each character must tell two tales on the way to Canterbury and two tales on the way back. One tale that stood out amongst the other was told by a character known as the Wife of Bath. She tells a tale about a knight who is convicted of a crime he did commit. As punishment, he must find out what women desire most. He searches everywhere but does not find the answer in time. An old woman is eager to help the knight in exchange for a favor in the near future. She helps the knight and asks for his hand in marriage. They both get married and the knight regrets his decision to bargain with her. The moral lesson one can take from this tale is about beauty and how others may perceive inner beauty.
3.) The Love Song of J.Alfred Prufrock
The Long Song of J.Alfred Prufrock tells a story about a timid man who finds a woman that is very appealing to his eyes. However, the guy is too afraid to say anything to the woman. He has an internal conflict in regards to whether he should approach her or not. Evitably, his emotions get the best of him and does not speak to the woman. In this story, he mentions how his life would go on as time was limited to him. This story speaks explicitly on the insecurities of a man. The best critic of self is ourselves and this story conveys a side of a man that woman usually don't see. Women are seen as very judging towards their appearance. The same can be said about men.
4.) Psalms 23 
Psalms 23, along with the Bible itself, is the oldest piece of literature ever written. As a child, I read the Bible faithfully; This explains why I know more about the Bible than a typical atheist and most Christians, but I digress. Psalms 23 is a chapter in the Bible that is commonly recited at funerals. This chapter is a song giving praise to God. This is not a sad, melancholy song of praise. This song is giving thanks to God for being the guidance and a comforter in times of trouble.
5.) The Parable of the Prodigal Son
According to the Bible, Jesus usually taught the multitude with parables. One of which pertains to a prodigal son. The parable tells about a son who wants his inheritance. His father gives him his share and the son goes off to a faraway country. In this country, the son lives rambunctiously and waste the money that was given to him. A famine brews in the country and the son decides to find work. He is eventually hired as someone who tends to the pigs. The son finds himself eating the husk and slops that the pigs ate. He realizes that his father's servants are in better living conditions than he is, so he decides to return home and work as one of his father's servants. Upon arriving, his father greets him with open arms instead of shunning his son for his ravenous spending and wild lifestyle.
6.) Infant Joy and Infant Sorrow
"Infant Joy" and "Infant Sorrow" were both written by William Blake. Both poems talk about the birth of a child. "Infant Joy" is about an infant who is born with a name and only knows the joys of its new existence. The mother takes two days to come up with a name for the infant, but eventually, names it Joy due to its joyful demeanor. This poem reflects on birth as a joyous occasion, as it is told in the perspective of the mother and infant. "Infant Sorrow" conveys a completely different message from "Infant Joy". This poem implicitly states how sorrowful the baby feels once it is released from the comfort of its mother. The infant knows that it was brought into a world that is tainted by sins and dangers; Thus, makes the experience of childbirth extremely painful for the mother, infant, and father. In conclusion, both poems are mentioning the subject of childbirth; However, both depict a different experience as childbirth is both sorrowful and joyous

Journal Entry: Macbeth Act 3

Act three of Macbeth starts off with Banquo's contemplating to himself. He thinks about the prophecies the witches have told them and how they are unfolding before him. He mentions how Macbeth becomes Thane of Cawdor and that he is now king. Banquo grows ever suspicious of Macbeth's path to kingship. Macbeth runs into Banquo and gains information about the schedule for that day and informs him of the banquet being held in the castle. Banquo tells Macbeth that he and his son, Fleance, were planning to go out on horseback. Macbeth dismisses him. Every since Macbeth committed the act of betrayal and rosed to power, he has been skeptical about the people around him. He knows that Banquo is a free thinker and soon he will be a threat to him. He then orders two murderers to go kill Banquo and Fleance. When Banquo is murdered, he orders Fleance to flee; This is the last time he is mentioned in the play. Before the banquet, Lady Macbeth is concerned with Macbeth's mental well-being. However, Macbeth is unwilling to tell her what he thinks. He describes his mind as being picked at by scorpions. These "scorpions" are the evil Macbeth has done throughout the play thus far. He hides his intents from his wife. At the banquet, Macbeth begins to act strange to his guest when he sees the ghost of Banquo. He scolds the ghost and it vanishes. Lady Macbeth tries to cover up the incident by mentioning that he is mentally ill. The ghost of Banquo then appears again and Macbeth acts unusual in front of the guest. Lady Macbeth orders the guest to leave. She fears that Macbeth will say something that will expose their dark secret. Meanwhile, Malcolm resided in England. Macduff goes back to inform Malcolm about his suspicions of Macbeth's rise to power. He plans on leading an army to Macbeth and de-throning him.   

Journal Entry to Macbeth Act 1-2

Act 1:  The play starts off with an ominous opening scene with three witches. They are stirring a cauldron. They all say "Fair is foul and foul is fair", as it refers to one of the themes of the play. Good and evil personas will be misled by the actions of the characters in the play. Scene two is the Captain of the Scottish army to bring King Duncan the great news of Macbeth's victory against the traitor, Macdonwald. Macbeth brutally assassinates Macdonwald by disemboweling him from his belly button to his navel. The Captain also informs King Duncan about Macbeth's advance to capture the Thane of Cawdor on the other side of Scotland. King Duncan is understandably happy about the news he just received. Scene three is where the witches stop Banquo and Macbeth while they are on their way to Macbeth's castle. The three witches reveal to them three prophecies that will be set in motion very soon. Banquo and Macbeth are skeptical about the prophecies, but their skeptic minds are convinced as one of the three prophecies are fulfilled and Macbeth is promoted to Thane of Cawdor. In scene four, Macbeth writes his wife a letter in regards to the prophecies that are said to transpire. Lady Macbeth reads this in the letter. Her plan is to speed up the process of Macbeth becoming king by killing King Duncan. She informs Macbeth about her agenda, but he refuses. Macbeth has no true motive to kill King Duncan, other than his deep ambition to be King. He then agrees with his wife and the act ends there.

Act 2: The first scene starts off with Banquo and his son, Flenace, talking about a strange occurrence. There are no stars nor moon in the night sky. Macbeth walks in and Banquo asks him has he been thinking about what the three witches said to him. Macbeth denies this but he is lying to him in order hide his intents of killing King Duncan. An imaginary dagger then guides Macbeth to King Duncan; This is when the murder was committed. Macbeth meets up with his wife, who did not want to kill King Duncan herself because he reminded her too much of her father. Macbeth is shaken by what he has done and refuses to commit any other heinous acts. Macduff knocks on the door to the Macbeth's castle. While the porter answers the door. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth wash their hands of blood. Macduff soon discovers the dead body of King Duncan and alerts everyone in the castle; This includes King Duncan's sons, Malcolm and Donalblain. Both of King Duncan's sons flee the castle in fear of their own lives, but this act only adds suspicion towards them. Ross does not buy the explanation given by the old man and will presumably figure out the real killer of King Duncan. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.