Power and Corruption

Power can lead to corruption because it is human nature for an individual to use power poorly and badly when they are given power. This can be shown in Macbeth  as we see his "fall of man" archetype. When Macbeth receives power, he doesn't know how to properly obtain it. He immediately thirsts for more power, which results in him killing Duncan and Banquo-an obvious sign of corruption and evil that comes as a result of his desire for power.

When an individual receives something, it is human nature for them to want more. Nothing is ever enough, there always needs to be more. This can be seen throughout different works of literature, its no surprise that Shakespeare touched on it. This is a prevalent theme that can be seen throughout history, Adolf Hitler, for instance rebuilt the entire social structure of Germany after being elected chancellor. The position of Chancellor was already incredibly powerful, but his internal desire for dominance lead him to ultimately take total control over the country.

Blog Post Number 5

1.  This is Jennet Parkinson, Wife of Cuthbert Hesketh of Whitehill, Lancashire painted by George Gower.  This was painted in 1580 using oil on a panel: 23 13/16 x 20 3/8 inches.

2.  This painting was created in 1580 in England.

3.  This is just a portrait created by George Gower, nothing needed to be depicted, it is just a portrait of Jennet Parkinson to show her beauty.

4.  For this painting, Mrs. Parkinson came and sat down in front of Gower while he painted her.  He painted her as she was sitting, showing light and shadows with different shades of the oil paint.

5.  This work conveys a social values of a wealthy person.  We are able to tell that the woman is wealthy by the dress that she chooses to wear with the neck garment and hat.  This is traditionally what rich women wore when they were going to a ball or having a portrait done.  It was also very common for wealthy people to get portraits made of themselves.  Based on this picture and little background knowledge we are able to understand her social class and type of lifestyle. This piece of art has no different value from when it was created, except now it is a piece of history.  We still can see that this was the way women with wealth dressed in the 16th century.  It does not cause me to re-consider the meaning of the art or its value.  This work doesn't really hold as much value in today's society, except for the family down the line from Jennet Parkinson.  The title of this work does not signify anything important in its self.  It is just giving the name of the woman whose portrait this is.  No more value of understanding is found from this picture.  However,  it does give  us insight into the way that society was in the 16th century and the way that people in the upper class acted and dressed.

Blog Post #4

       What does Mr. Brocklehurst’s analogy between the ill-prepared breakfast and the “sufferings of the primitive Christians…the torments of martyrs…the exhortations of our blessed Lord Himself” reveal about his character? How does this attitude contrast with that of Miss Temple to reveal the author’s social message?

       Brocklehurst's analogy between an ill-prepared meal with the “sufferings of the primitive Christians…the torments of martyrs…the exhortations of our blessed Lord Himself” shows that Brocklehurst is an extravagant man. Only someone who is accustomed to the absoloute best would feel the need to describe something so petty in such dire circumstances. 

       Mr. Brocklehurst's insensitive and cruel behavior differs from that of Miss Temple because she is clearly a very kind, compassionate woman who cares for the girls, unlike Mr. Brocklehurst who shows much more selfish tendencies.

       Brocklehurst serves as a symbol for the author's message about hypocrites in Christianity, as he is supposedly a pious man. Miss Temple serves as his complete opposite, to worsen his brutal attitude and show the audience how pitiful he truthfully is. 

    

T    

FREEBEE

FREEBEE

What is a name?

My name is very valuable to me and to my family.  My full name is James Robinson Carroll VI.  I am the sixth generation of James Robinson Carroll's on my dad's side of the family.  My father is James R. Carroll V, and his father is James R. Carroll IV.  I also intend to name my child James Robinson Carroll VII.  This name defines me as a member of the Carroll family.  However, whenever my family gets mail, sometimes the sender does not put the suffix on James Robinson Carroll so there is a bit of confusion over who's mail it is (It is usually bills, so it is usually my dad's).  I go by Robinson, my dad goes by James, and his dad goes by J.R.  When people ask me to explain how my name doesn't get confusing in our family, I just try to explain to them that even though we all have the same name, we go by different names.  It isn't very confusing to me, but to other people it is and I do not understand it.  My name is very important to me and I wouldn't rather have any other name.  I will never change my last name after marriage, and I don't agree with double/hyphenated last names.  I don't agree with them because, for years past men have kept their last names and women have changed their last name to their middle name.  That is how it is meant to be and I don't agree with double last names.
In my life, I am seen as an individual, yet also as a member of the Ward family.  This may seem weird because my name does not have Ward anywhere in it, however, I am more identified on my mom's side of the family because I have taken more interests into what her family does; fishing, hunting, etc.  As an individual I am more vulnerable and I do not like that.  I have made many mistakes in my life that will be carried with me, however they will not be carried in my family.  Throughout high school, every mistake that I have ever made has been viewed as no more than James Robinson Carroll VI, not the Ward family, and not the Carroll family.  As high school nears its end for me, I am more and more excited.  I am excited to be able to leave the world of James Robinson Carroll VI in Raleigh NC behind and start fresh with no mistakes and no judgements in college.  As for me being viewed as a member of the Ward family, I am seen as a product of my Grandfather and my Uncle.  Whenever I go hunting and fishing with my family I get so many more privileges than the average person will get because my family's name holds great weight in that community.  My Grandfather has been a member of Crow Hill Hunting Club since my mother was a child.  He is also a dentist in Jacksonville, North Carolina.  I have had free dental work my entire life, and I don't know anything else.  Another part of my family also holds very large ground, and that is my Great Aunt and  Uncle, my Grandfather's brother and his wife.  They have season tickets to East Carolina Football games, and are very involved with the school.  It may help my chances of getting in.  The Ward family are very outgoing people and they have so many connections.  I love being a part of that family and don't ever want to leave.  Instead of being viewed as James Robinson Carroll VI, I am viewed as Wade Ward's Grandson, and Chris Ward's nephew, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Author: Wing Young Huie

1. By looking at this picture we can see that there are fireworks being shot over a lake.  It is the Fourth of July.  We can also see three people standing by the waters edge looking out over the lake, and up at the fireworks.
2. As we look deeper we can notice the houses in the background.  What we notice about them is that all of their lights are on.  Since all of their lights are on, one possible assumption is that the families that are inhabiting them are celebrating the independence of the United States together.  Now, if we think about the three people we can infer that their may be a problem going on with them.  They could be teenagers and could be having trouble with their parents and they may just want to celebrate with their friends instead of being at home.  They may be considered outcasts.
3. In Huie's photograph, and Margaret Atwood's Novel The Handmaid's Tale, othering is very prevalent.  Both of these texts have outcasts from society.  In The Handmaid's Tale, the Unwomen are seen as the outcast whom cannot fit in with society.  They cannot fit in because they cannot birth a child, unlike the rest of the women.  In this photo, the three people are also outcasts of society.  They are not with their families celebrating the Fourth of July.  Instead they are by themselves and on the other side of the lake.  The separation of the vast lake is a huge symbol in this picture because it is as if they will never fit in and they have been cast out. In The Handmaid's Tale, a symbol that represents separation would obviously be the wall, as well as the prefix Un.  Because of these the Unwomen are forced out of society the same way that the three people in the photograph are.