The Kite Runner Socratic Seminar #2 Reflection

The seminar influenced my thinking by opening up a wider range of topics for discussion. Being able to hear the opinions of my classmates made it easier for me to understand the text. The discussion truly made me put myself into the shoes of the characters, and try to imagine just what it would have felt like to be them. Much of the discussion focused on the relationship between Baba and Amir, as well as the dramatic changes they endure when they immigrate to the U.S.  A particularly interesting question that I had not thought of in depth before was whether or not refugees should be seen as cowardly for leaving their countries in a time of war. While reading the book, I had not thought much about the this concept of cowardice, and I though it was an interesting question that sparked some very diverse responses.

The statement that I agreed with the most was that Amir would probably never be able to forgive himself for what he let happen to Hassan. Many of my classmates agreed with this statement, and added on that Amir may constantly try to make up for his actions, but life without regrets is an impossible feat. The statement that I least agree with is that refugees can be considered cowards because they fled their countries in times of war. I personally believe that if a person is placed in a dangerous, life threatening situation, it is only logical and fair that they be allowed to leave. Refugees are often innocent people, who have been caught up violence, which in many cases, seems impossible to stop. I think it is unfair to deny refugees the change to move to other countries and try to make better lives for themselves, and even their families. If there had been more time for discussion, I would have liked to further discuss the life of Hassan, and how it compares to that of Amir. I am still puzzled by Hassan’s unfaltering loyalty, the fact that he would drop anything to help Amir, the fact that he wore black for 40 days in mourning for Baba. I think it would have been very interesting to discuss the idea of loyalty, and see if my classmates valued it, gave it, and to what extent.

I think that the group did very well at being courteous an allowing those who were speaking to finish their thoughts before sharing their own opinions. This particular seminar group was composed of those who tend to dominate the discussions, and a great thing about this discussion was the number of different ideas people had. I felt like each individual person had adequately prepared, which made it easy for the discussion to flow and cover a wide range of topics. Because everybody in the group was courteous I felt comfortable speaking and knew that I would not be interrupted by anybody, and took care not to interrupt anybody. The combination of everybody sharing their ideas whenever they could, as well as allowing others to speak created a stimulating discussion, that was able to dig deeper into a lot of the themes of The Kite Runner.

A particular area that could use improvement would be the amount of time spent on each topic of discussion. I felt that the discussion lingered on some topics and ideas, namely the relationship between Baba and Amir, as well as how they were faring in the U.S. While these topics are complex, and have many areas that can be analyzed, the discussion got to the point where it seemed like people were repeating others, or themselves. Avoiding this would make discussions less redundant and open up other important topics and themes for discussion.

The Kite Runner Socratic Seminar #1 Reflection

 This particular seminar focused on the use of emotional appeals, which exposed me to a number of ways of thinking about situations. By hearing the thought processes of my classmates, and the decisions they would individually make in similar situations in The Kite Runner, I was able to see the complexity of the many decisions we are faced to make. This would include the idea of prioritizing- who do I put before myself? When do I put myself before others-, the effects of events on one’s life – the death or departure of a family member or the way others treat you- and many other such topics. The seminar made me think more about the tradeoffs that people make in their lives, and how these shape who they are. A particular statement that I hadn’t thought of in such depth was when someone stated, “I love my mother, but I don’t like her.” I though it was interesting to hear of the personal parent/child relationships of my classmates. This made me think of the complexity of such roles. While parents must care for their children, they must also ensure that they teach them and prepare them to act individually, which may often involve methods that children do not enjoy.  

The statement that I agreed with the most was when someone stated that Amir strives to meet the demands of his father, and is driven by his desire to please his father. Amir seems to think that he was responsible for his mother’s death, and has failed his father by not being like him. In his quest for acceptance, Amir neglects Hassan, who may be his only true friend. In the alley, Amir describes Hassan as a sacrificial lamb who must be given up so that he can gain his father’s respect. Although Amir’s actions were unacceptable and deemed immoral by everybody in the discussion, the group was able to recognize his motive, and why he acted the way he did. The statement I agreed with the least was when someone stated that all children want to be better than those that surround them. While I agree that being “better” than someone at certain skills is a feeling many desire throughout their lives, I believe that the driving force of this feeling is the search for identity. Particularly in the earlier stages of life, people look to establish their own identity. The question of identity is one that a person must find on their own, and each set of skill every person builds makes them who they are. If there had been more time to discuss/opportunity to bring up anything, I would have liked to further discuss the prevailing discrimination in Afghanistan, and how The Kite Runner acts as an accurate depiction of this society, and others as well. Religious, racial and ethnic tensions exist worldwide, and such feelings drive wars and resentment. I would have also like to speak of how this discrimination emotionally effects the characters in The Kite Runner. Hassan and Ali seem to receive the most discrimination due to their ethnicity and religion, which makes their characters seem more submissive, both in their jobs and personalities. I think that these are important themes to address because they are so prevalent in the world.

A particular aspect that worked really well for the seminar was the use of emotional appeals. Past Socratic Seminars saw the domination of logical, or even ethical appeals, where it was harder to generate emotional responses. I think that The Kite Runner brings up some very pressing themes and questions that many people may find themselves asking individually. Because the text was so emotional, everybody was able to generate their own emotional opinions. Further, many of the questions asked generated emotional responses. For example, would you want Baba or Ali as a father? Would you risk your life for somebody? Should children and parents automatically have the respect of each other? Through questions such as these, many emotional responses were shared, and it made it possible to hear what my classmates were thinking. I feel that the use of emotional appeals made it easier to connect to the text, and even clarify what the characters would be thinking, and how we would react in similar situations.

I believe that the group should work on incorporating a wider range of topics as well as connecting the plot to real life. A particularly great thing about this past seminar was that we were able to discuss topics from the book in relation to our daily lives without straying too far away from the text. Regardless, it would have been nice to spend more time on some of the subjects that had been brought up. For example, one participant asked why rape victims often do not speak up.  I feel that this topic, and specifically the rape of Hassan, was danced around, but never fully discussed. Much of the conversation focused on father/son relationships or the friendship between Amir and Hassan. The Kite Runner brought up a variety of themes, including discrimination, ethnic hatred and social injustice, a wealth of topics to discuss. I think that incorporating all of these themes into the discussion would enrich it and give everybody a deeper understanding of the plot, and even the world issues and injustices that exist in our own society.

Socratic Seminar #4 Preparation

Summary of the Assigned Reading

Captured by the government, Winston discovers that O’Brien had manipulated him and had been working for the party. Winston is brutally tortured in the Ministry of Love, in the dreaded Room 101. O’Brien proceeds to re-teach Winston, using torture/pain to force him into total submission to the Party.

Level 2 Questions

1.)   How do the connotations of “the place where there is no darkness” change throughout 1984?

Initially, “the place where there is no darkness” appears as a place of refuge and enlightenment to Winston. Before he knows about O’Brien’s true nature, Winston is convinced he can trust O’Brien, and that he could be a part of the Brotherhood and widespread rebellion. “The place where there is no darkness” symbolized a place wherein there is light. This appeared as a positive place to Winston, who saw the manipulation and oppression of the Party to be the darkness that covered the truth up from him and the citizens of Oceania.  In reality, “the place where there is no darkness” is a place of pain and torture: the Ministry of Love. In the Ministry, Winston concludes that “in this place, he knew instinctively, the lights would never be turned out […] there were no windows.” Realizing his vulnerability in the Ministry of Love, Winston recognizes that he cannot tell the time of day, nor will he see the outside world, or any true light. “The place where there is no darkness” turned out to be referring to Winston’s torture chamber in place of his freedom from oppression. (Pathos)

2.)   How do the Party criminals differ from the common criminals?

The common criminals within the Ministry of Love seem to enjoy more freedom and power within the prison society. Conversely, the Party members, who completely control society outside of prison, exercise no power within the walls of the Ministry of Peace. The hierarchy of the holding facility is that “the positions of trust were given only to the common criminals, especially the gangsters and the murderers, who formed a sort of aristocracy. All the dirty jobs were done by the politicians.” The common criminals are viewed as less of a threat, although their actions (such as murder) are perceived as much worse and extreme in the real world. More than anything, the party is threatened by thoughts. If feelings of resentment or ideas of rebellion manifest in the minds of their people, the possibility of losing power and control only increase. The Party is more concerned with its members, who have committed thought crime and know the inner workings of the party. These individuals have the minds and possibly the means to rebel, making crimes such as murder seem minute as long as they possess ideological control over those who commit them. (Logos)

3.)   Why does the Party look to change the mindsets of its criminal rather than simply kill them?

As expressed by O’Brien himself, the party’s system ensures “…there are no martyrdoms.” The party wishes to completely suppress rebellion, and ensure that revolutionary thoughts die before the thoughtcriminals do. The danger of martyrdom is that it only encourages others to fight, and even die for their beliefs. The Party understands that many people would rather die with their own beliefs than live under complete submission to the beliefs of another. In the past martyrs have inspired revolution and other individuals, making it vital for the Party to eliminate beliefs. O’Brien says to Winston, “Shall I tell you why we have brought you here? To cure you! To make you sane! […] We do not merely destroy our enemies; we change them.” Changing one’s enemy can be seen as a more drastic action. There are many fates worse than death, and brutal torture to end free thought, is one of them. (Logos)

4.)   How does the Party use forces such as children and doublethink to effectively indoctrinate their society?

Through the use of children and doublethink, the party is effectively able to halt the spread of revolutionary ideas, and maintain control over its people in a twisted way.

When Winston asked Parsons who had him arrested, he replies, “It was my little daughter […] I’m proud of her. It shows I brought her up in the right spirit, anyway.” This entre scenario perfectly exemplifies the idea of doublethink. Parsons had said “down with Big Brother” in his sleep, and might have felt resentment and hatred towards the Party, yet is proud of his daughter for denouncing thoughtcriminals, even though it cost him a life in jail. The fact that children are used to spy on their own parents demonstrates the Party’s desire to eliminate all relationships or feelings of love that are not expressed towards Big Brother. Without such relationships, the Party would be sure of its total control, and have less fear of rebellion against Big Brother. Through doublethink, the Party is able to ensure that its citizens believe what they want them to. Although individual thoughts exist, they are overridden by Party propaganda. (Logos)

5.)   How prevalent is betrayal in the society of 1984? Why does Winston believe in people such as O’Brien, only to be betrayed, and why would he betray Julia?

Winston is betrayed multiple times in 1984. He foolishly chooses to trust Mr. Charrington and O’Brien, to the extent that they can easily catch him for his thoughtcrime. Winston states that O’Brien was “ … the tormentor, he was the protector, he was the inquisitor, he was the friend.”  Winston had seen O’Brien as a ray of hope, an escape from Party control. Winston chose to simply believe him and follow him as it was the only hope. O’Brien’s alleged Brotherhood was the only known alternative to the Party, making Winston clasp on to anything he could to escape from the Party. This made it easy for O’Brien to manipulate him. The party deliberately set out to find thought criminals, and deeply rooted themselves in order to effectively manipulate them. Winston and Julia even found themselves betraying each other. Under intense physical pain, their love for each other seemed to crumble. Both of them could only tolerate so much, and were both physically and emotionally broken by torture, to the extent that they betrayed each other to try and save their own lives. (Pathos)

6.)   What is the role of Room 101 in the plot? Why would such a concept exist?

Room 101 solely functions to inspire fear in the prisoners in the Ministry of Love. As described by O’Brien, “the thing that is in Room 101 is the worst thing in the world.” Each person is subjected to their worst fear, making them do anything to end their time in Room 101. One of the prisoners even stated, “I’ve got a wife and three children[…] You can take the whole lot of them and cut their throats in front of my eyes, and I’ll stand by and watch it. But not room 101!” This man was willing to give up his entire family in order to avoid room 101, a repulsive fact, indicative of the Party’s successful use of Room 101 to beat down their prisoners. The terror expressed towards the idea of Room 101 illustrates the maltreatment of the prisoners by the Party. With the idea of their greatest fear in mind, prisoners are willing to confess to anything to end their pain, a psychologically terrifying fact. (Pathos)

Level 3 Questions (x3)

1.)   Why are power and corruption so often directly linked?

As stated by Lord Acton “absolute power corrupts absolutely.” As seen in 1984 and in history, human beings enjoy exercising power over others. This is seen on a number of scales, but the acquisition of power often leads to the desire for more power. If people go through great measures to obtain power, the chances are they will go through even greater measures to maintain power, and corruption is a means of maintaining power.

2.)   To what extent is torture effective?

Ethically speaking, torture is viewed as immoral in many societies who believe that deliberately inflicting pain on another to extract information is a horrendous act. The truth about physical pain is that it can be increased to the point that individuals would rather die than have to endure another second of pain. Torture physically and emotionally weakens people, to the point that they are ruined. (Pathos) Though it may be effective in obtaining information, it also must be considered that innocent people can be tortured. Torturing victims either know information, or do not. The scary fact is that innocent people who do not know anything can be tortured for information they do not have. Multiple factors must be considered, for example, if the person is actually telling the truth, or a lie, whether the information is relevant, if it is possible that the truth changed over time. Considering all of these factors, torture can largely be ineffective. Individuals have been severely psychologically damaged by torture, and would be willing to say anything to end the pain. It is unknown as to if the information is true, or relevant. (Logos)

3.)   Can torture change personalities and behavior? Can emotions, such as love, be driven out by torture?

Torture can definitely change behavior. For example, a dog that has been severely beaten is likely to be more reserved. They shy away from humans, and are very weary of new people, and sudden movements. Torture could have the same effects on humans. The psychological imprint of torture can lead individuals to become more reserved, or fear that it might happen again, and allowing this fear to run their lives (Logos).  Torture can make people stop caring about the world, and simply want death. The degree of physical pain that is inflicted upon them may be so severe that they do not want to feel anymore. Experiencing intense pain may make people forget about other feelings, as they would be focused on the moment. Torture would create feelings of helplessness, desperation, and if the pain would not end, many would rather die and not have to feel it any longer. I believe that emotions such as love may still exist; however, the immediate feelings may override these emotions. (Pathos)

Quotes

1.)   “We are not content with negative obedience, nor even with the most abject submission. When finally you surrender to us, it must be of your own free will. We do not destroy the heretic because he resists us; so long as he resists us we never destroy him. We convert him, we capture his inner mind, we reshape him.” Pg. 210

2.)   “There were times when his nerve so forsook him that he began shouting for mercy even before the beating began, when the mere sight of a fist drawn back for a blow was enough to make him pour forth a confession of real and imaginary crimes.” Pg. 199

1984 Socratic Seminar #3 Reflection

Due to the many thoughts/opinions of my classmates, the seminar influenced my thinking in a number of ways. Being able to hear the variety of questions made me see just how much could be discussed about the book. Although 1984 is a relatively short book, so many ideas have been bought up over the seminars. With this seminar in particular, I saw more emotional appeals used during the discussions regarding the idea of love and relationships. This made me think more about the emotional side of 1984 as opposed to the political rebellion side, or the structure of the government. A particular topic that I had not previously thought of in as much depth was the reason for the relationship between Winston and Julia. I had recognized the strange nature of their relationship, and how their society seemed to shape their interactions; however, I had not completely thought of why it existed in the first place. My classmates brought up many ideas, include the perceptions of love, lust, and even the political aspects. This made me think more about how Julia and Winston initially began seeing each other as an act of political rebellion, which may have grown into something stronger later.

A statement I agreed with was a response to a question regarding why Winston simply trusted O’Brien. A classmate of mine argued that Winston needed something else to believe in, making O’Brien the only other option to the Big Brother Regime. They also brought up the idea that Winston seemed to have a gut feeling in trusting O’Brien, making their interactions seem as if they were destined to happen. 

A particular part of the discussion that I did not per say “agree” with was when some of my classmates expressed shock or disbelief towards my thoughts about how long countries or governments could stay in power. I believe it to be perfectly plausible to think that the US will eventually cease to be the most powerful country in the world. History has seen the collapses of all empires. From the mighty Roman, Persian and Egyptian Empires, to European monarchies, to dictatorships in Latin America, Africa and worldwide, both the most oppressive, and the most stable/economically prosperous societies have fallen. A classmate argued that this might not be the case with the United States because of its democratic system; however, there remain flaws and unhappiness in the US. Countries such as China continue to make huge strides in development, and are on track to become the largest economies on earth. Personally, I believe that the world is incredibly fragile, and no society is indestructible.

A subject that I would have liked to further discuss during the seminar would have been the tradeoffs made between freedom and security. I would have liked to hear what my classmates believed in regards to this idea. How big of a role should a government play in providing security? How far can governments go in protecting their citizens? The balance between privacy/freedom, and state protection (ex: police forces) is vital in determining the stability of societies, and I would have liked to see how my classmates would solve this type of problem if they had to make such decisions.

Throughout the seminar, I noticed that diverse questions were asked, creating lots of interesting conversation. I also saw that those who participated were not afraid of sharing their ideas, and openly disagreeing or agreeing with others. It was good to see people comfortable with just speaking to the rest of the class, and sharing their opinions and thoughts about the text. Many people also connected their questions to those of others, enabling the discussion to go in deeper. Such follow up questions made me personally think more in depth of the various topics. The wide range of questions helped in getting more people to participate, as different questions stirred responses from different people.  

I believe that as a group, we need to work on making sure all people participate the number of times they need to, and to overall improve participation. Throughout the seminars, I have noticed that there are some people more comfortable with speaking than others, and some that dominate discussions, while others hardly speak. This may have happened due to the longer amount of reading that had to be completed prior to the seminar, which may have made people more pressed for time in preparation. I think that by getting more people to participate, it would be more possible to discuss more topics, as well as hear a greater flow of ideas. This could be done through asking more emotional based level three questions. This would enable those less comfortable with the text to share their thoughts and feelings. This could still create interesting discussion regarding themes that connect 1984 and the real world.

1984-Socratic Seminar #2 Reflection

Each person in the discussion had brought their own set of original questions, so many topics were brought up and discussed. I found that many of my questions focused around similar topics/themes, particularly emotions. I asked more questions regarding the indoctrination of the people in 1984, and what they might have felt, or how they came to believe certain lies. Being able to have the seminar influenced me into thinking of a wider range of topics, as my classmates brought up other ideas, among many they included the corruption of power, communication and interactions between children and adults. Something said that I had not thought of so much before was a comment on the richness of language. Somebody shared their opinion that the loss of words made language less rich, and thus made it less meaningless, and harder to express oneself verbally in front of others. Before, I had considered the usage of other mediums, such as music or dance, but did not fully visualize the idea of being verbally limited in expressing ideas and emotions.

A statement I agreed with during the seminar was one made on the objective of the Party in 1984 to remove emotions, and only inflict feelings of loyalty towards the Party. Many of my peers built off of this idea, adding on that emotional bonds between people would come between the totalitarian rulers and their subjects, making human devotion towards other humans a setback, and a dangerous prospect that could even lead to revolution.  There were no statements that I particularly disagreed with. I found many of the comments of my peers to be fair arguments, which I found myself supporting/building off of.  A topic that I think should be further discussed in the seminars is that of memories. More specifically, how credible are the memories of the citizens in 1984? How credible are our own memories? I feel this is an interesting question as in 1984, the memories of many are wiped or manipulated, making their memories almost fake, incredulous, or just unreliable. Meanwhile, in our world, many people treasure memories, and share them with others. So much can be stored in the memory of one person, and we will often believe professional individuals and their capability to memorize information, and present analysis from their memories. I would have liked to know what other people thought about the differences memory plays in 1984 versus our very own society.

I feel that everybody in my discussion made an effort to get each person to speak/participate, which worked well as we were able to get a greater flow of ideas from different people. Further, I could tell that everybody was prepared based on the diverse set of questions I heard from my classmates, and the responses, as well as textual evidence that everybody supplied. I felt that because people were prepared and tried to get others engaged, the discussion was enriched, and there was never a lack of topics to discuss. Had people not come prepared, there would be a larger chance that the questions would be less interesting, and the responses less well crafted. I also felt that as a whole, the group did well at building off of the ideas of others. Little was simply repeated, instead people tried to contribute new thoughts or arguments or quotes to support their thoughts/opinions.

Similar to what my other classmates stated just after the seminar, I felt that overall people agreed with each other, and few debates took place. We were able to contribute new ideas when we built off of others, and supported their answers, yet the discussion could have been better if more controversial topics were discussed in order to hear all of the different points of views that people may possess. This would have opened more windows into the discussion, and could have opened more topics for debate, as well as more opportunities to use various rhetorical appeals. Additionally, because each person thought of their own individual questions, many people would end up answering their own questions, due to the fact that thinking of a strong answer requires time. Although it was great to have each person contribute new questions and ideas, it would have been nice to have one or two questions in advanced so that each person would have a developed answer to that much, especially if they do not feel comfortable speaking. 

1984 Socratic Seminar Reflection 1

The seminars influenced my thinking as a wide range of topics and questions were discussed, providing the opportunity to think about multiple different themes. It made me understand that Orwell tackled a great amount of themes in just the first three chapters, and the limitless sea of ideas people may have regarding the events in 1984. Many people shared how they believed the methods of indoctrination worked and why they were successful, as well as tried to imagine living in such a society. Something that I had not completely thought of before in depth was the idea of privacy. A few people spoke about how it was almost inconceivable to us to be watched and listened to at any time. I also thought more deeply about the idea that even thinking could be considered a crime, and the sheer amount of restrictions placed on the people in Orwell’s 1984.

I agree with the statement that through the use of manipulative techniques, the Party has succeeded in indoctrination the people of Oceania. This would include strategies such as the daily “2 minutes hate,” and naming the totalitarian leader “Big Brother” to make him appear as a protector of all, as opposed to an oppressive force.  I disagreed with some of the statements regarding the choice between living under total indoctrination or death. I do not believe you can simply choose to die, and escape from troubles, as in such a society, people may hold a moral obligation to try to their fullest efforts to end such oppression; however, simply living and complying to the demands of others would hardly be living at all. If I could have participated in the seminars, I would have liked to speak more of the degree of indoctrination that is prevalent in Orwell’s dystopian society, the lack of freedom in the society, as well as the lack of basic rights that most people within the United States take for granted. To this day, many countries lack the rights that are often taken for granted in more developed countries. Governments that are not democracies exist to this day, and people lack representation, or the ability to vote for whom they want in a free, fair election. Although possibly exaggerated, the events in Orwell’s 1984 are true and have happened before, adding to the social critique he presents in his book. I believe this is important to understand in the context of the book, as Orwell had drawn from historical events, and his works often reflect on humanity, a topic that everyone should look to learn more about.

The two seminars went very well in that a wide range of questions were asked, and students were able to invent questions regarding multiple different themes and ideas, hence there were no shortages of ideas or opinions, demonstrating the preparation each person completed prior to the seminar. Further, the discussion leaders did well at trying to get each person engaged. Whether it was directly asking them a question, or to have those that did not participate respond or ask their own question, each person contributed at one point or another. Such areas were successful due to the preparation that students did to properly develop questions and ideas for the seminar, and by the initiative taken by students to try and get everybody involved and engaged.

I believe that students being able to invent their own questions enabled them to develop their own ideas and thoughts, as well as have the freedom to explore topics they desired. Regardless, many times people would answer their own questions right away. As it takes time to develop thoughtful answers to questions, many people often had to think for a while before speaking, which means the question is thought provoking, but in the short amount of time we have for the seminars, this time to think is often not provided.  Possibly having a few common questions could have enabled the discussion to go deeper into the topic, as students would have had time to develop opinions. A mix of pre-chosen, and student chosen would have created an interesting mix of questions, but at the same time, each person will have already developed an opinion. 

Othello Dramatic Reading Statement of Intent

For this particular assignment, I chose to portray a discussion between Iago and Cassio in Act II scene iii of Othello. In this particular dialogue between the two men, Cassio despairs over losing his job as Othello’s right hand man, and his reputation, while Cassio tries to convince him not to lose hope.

Very distinct, yet different tones were chosen for both Cassio and Iago. I chose a very mournful and self-piteous tone to portray Cassios’s depression towards the events that took place.  Cassio’s life as a prominent military commander to the great Othello had ended, leaving him lost, worried about the future, and above all, sad. For these reasons, I tried to make Cassio sound as if her were wallowing in self-pity, and emphasized words that were causes of his despair. For example, I tried to emphasize the word “reputation” as this was what he feared he had lost. Further, I tried to emphasize the negative words he used to describe himself and his situation, such as drunk, squabble, devil, unperfectness and despise. Such words emphasize Cassio’s opinions of himself and the reasons as to why he is wallowing in self-pity, thus they explain what Cassio is thinking and feeling. Simultaneously, for Iago, I tried to use a very persuasive and sympathetic tone. Iago is attempting to gain the trust of Cassio, and thus sympathized and encouraged Cassio in his time of despair. For Iago, I emphasized words he used to accredit himself, such as when he called himself an “honest man”. Further, I emphasized words that would have worked to persuade Cassio, such as “idle” or “false” in describing reputation, and emphasizing the words “he’s yours” when Iago tells Cassio he can win back Othello’s favor. Such a tone and emphasis methods would have portrayed Iago’s desperation to gain the trust of Cassio so he could later deceive him.

By acting as Cassio and Iago during this dramatic reading, I learned much about the characters and the play as a whole. Forcing myself into the roles of Cassio and Iago helped me realize more about each character. By trying to portray them, I thought more critically about their motivations behind their actions and feelings, and why they would act the way they do. I imagined myself as a fully-grown adult who had lost my job, and reputation, and how such events would affect my attitude and the measures I would take to redeem myself, finding that the way in Cassio behaved was realistic. Further, by “becoming” Iago, I finally understood the extent of his trickery in the play, and how he was effectively able to manipulate those around him for his personal gain. Overall, I learned that Shakespeare’s play was so largely symbolic of human emotions and how they drive individuals to do what they do. The idea of jealousy, the “green-eyed monster” became clearer to me, and I saw the role jealousy and human emotions had in driving the plot of Othello. As a human myself, portraying the emotions of Cassio and Iago made it possible for me to realize that emotions such as jealousy, anger, and vengefulness not only drove actions in Othello but in the real world as well, during Shakespearean, ancient, and modern times.

The dialogue in this particular except played a significant role in shaping Othello, and affected many aspects of dramatic structure. The dialogue between Cassio and Iago reveals the different emotions of the characters, which otherwise, may have remained unknown. More importantly, the dialogue furthered the complications of the plot and contributed to the rising action. This scene shows Iago gaining the trust of Cassio to further himself in his scheme. This further demonstrates the manipulative nature of Iago, which ultimately led to climax, the killing of Desdemona and Othello. This dialogue proved a steppingstone to the larger conflict, and set the stage for Iago to manipulate Cassio into seeking the help of Desdemona, only to further turn Othello against them both. The dialogue also built upon characterization. Cassio was characterized as a loyal man looking to regain his reputation, while Iago’s character continued to be more strongly portrayed as manipulative to all.  In general, dialogue between characters saw the revelations of emotions, rumors and secrets, which set off the human emotions of the characters and caused them to act in the way they did. 

Title Justification Essay #3: Paths Taken and Expectations Fulfilled

The sealing of the fate of both Wes Moores is detailed in the final chapters of the book, dubbed “The Land that God Forgot” and “Surrounded.” Entitled “Paths Taken and Expectations Fulfilled,” the final section of The Other Wes Moore is appropriately named based on the author’s purpose of demonstrating the role of free will in the lives of all, and how each person can determine their future. Moore gives the readers a glimpse into the futures of both Wes Moores as they continue along their chosen paths, and settle into the lifestyles they were expected to have.

The author’s purpose of demonstrating the relevance of free will and the importance of the path each person decides to take is clearly emphasized in the title “Paths Taken and Expectations Fulfilled.” Moore uses multiple examples of such concepts throughout the section. The second Wes believes, “We will do what others expect of us […] if they expect us to graduate, we will graduate […] if they expect us to go to jail, then that’s where we will end up too. At some point you lose control.”  Wes’s inability to take control of his life led to his downfall as seen when he was arrested for his crime and sentenced to prison for life. This Wes chose to take a dimmer path, “ he’d never thought long term about his life at all […] Now Wes’s mind wandered to the long term for the first time. Finally, he could see his future.”  To a degree Wes filled the expectations of those around when he was sentenced to prison. He had long been involved in crime, and the sentenced only confirmed what everybody seemed to know already. Conversely, the author responded to Wes’s comment regarding expectations by stating that he “sympathized with him, but I recoiled from his ability to shed responsibility seamlessly and drape it at the feet of others.” The author saw the importance and value of hard work and took control of his future.  The plotline also sees Wes Moore filling the expectations of his father, realizing that “Knowing when to fight and when to seek peace is wisdom. Ubuntu was right. And so was my father. Watende, my middle name, all at once made perfect sense.”  This not only demonstrates the author obtaining a larger understanding of the way of life he wants to live, but also shows that he was both able to fill the expectations his family members had for him and simultaneously take control of his own future.

Moore appropriately titles his section “Paths Taken and Expectations Fulfilled” to encompass his purpose of unveiling the deeper themes of the collection of chapters. While people have expectations placed upon them, it is an individual choice as to what they want their future to be. The title appropriately aligns with the ideas of free will determining one’s future, and the importance of the paths all people choose to take.

Chapter 8

Crime/Prison

“02.19/00, DUNDALK DISPATCH ADVISED THAT BOTH OF THE MOORE BROTHERS ARE UNDER ARREST IN PHILADELPHIA! […] As word spread, a collective sigh of relief seeped through Baltimore’s brisk winter air. At home, Mary wept.” Pg. 155

This quote illustrates the various feelings towards crime and the emotional toll it takes on all people involved. The Baltimore police force saw arresting the Moore brothers as justice because it was possible one of them was responsible for killing a fellow police officer. Conversely, Mary Moore saw her two sons receive life sentences in prison.  This demonstrates all negative aspects of crime. Choosing to partake in criminal activity, Wes Moore was condemned to prison for life. A police officer lost his life, and a mother lost her two sons. This reveals that crime should never be a response as it deeply harms all people involved, from family members to those who try to stop it. The distressing part of this all is that some people turn to crime out of desperation, and may feel they have no other choice.

“ Maybe it was because he’d never thought long term about his life at all. Early losses condition you to believe that short-term plans are always smarter. Now Wes’s mind wandered to the long term for the first time. Finally, he could see his future.” Pg. 157

For the first time, Wes is able to see that his future is dim, and that spending the rest of his life in prison is not only a possibility, but a probable future. The fact that Wes never though long-term about his future, demonstrates that many times individuals need to think of the future, no matter how hard this may be to do. Spending the rest of one’s life in prison is an oppressive, and depressing thought, and the severity of the punishment only further reveals that crime does not pay, and punishments wait for those who partake in criminal activity.

Poverty

“Living in the Bronx and Baltimore had given me the foolish impression that I knew what poverty looked like. At that moment, I realized I had no idea what poverty was- even in West Baltimore we lived like kings compared to this.” Pg. 166

The description of seeing the poverty in South Africa above reveals that poverty is widespread and people around the world face financial problems, and consequently other problems that come along with them. This quote also demonstrates the stark differences in the definitions of poverty across the world, where a low-income family in Baltimore, could be considered rich in South Africa. Moore reveals the imbalance of wealth across the world, and the common hardships that people worlds apart may share.

Growing Up

“Here, burgeoning manhood was guided and celebrated through a rite of passage. At home, burgeoning manhood was a trigger for apprehension. In the United States, we see these same faces, and our reflex is to pick up our pace and cross the street. And in this reflexive gesture, the dimensions of our tragedy are laid bare. Our young men-along with our young women- are our strength and our future. Yet we fear them.” Pg. 170

Wes Moore, revealing the mixed emotions associated with growing up, starkly contrasts the difference in attitude towards manhood/womanhood in South Africa and the USA. Moore reveals that although the people are the same, their attitudes may change, which is a daunting thought. The young men and women are the future of the world, as one day, they will be the ones controlling it, and raising future generations.  Growing up in a rough neighborhood, Moore understands that many may fear young men, who have lived in dangerous areas surrounded by crime and drugs. This quote also reveals the importance of ensuring that each person is brought up well, educated, and in the future can be able to positively contribute to the world.

“ Fighting for your convictions is important. But finding peace is paramount. Knowing when to fight and when to seek peace is wisdom. Ubuntu was right. And so was my father. Watende, my middle name, all at once made perfect sense.” Pg. 168

Wes Moore’s further realization on the importance of peace reveals the fact that he has grown up, as well as demonstrates the mindset that many adults who are admired have.  Young men and women may wish to impulsively seek revenge, or look for a fight, but being a man or a woman means that each person selectively fights for what they believe and look to find peaceful solutions. Moore conveys his realization on the importance of peace by describing the thought process and wisdom involved in making decisions. This realization and wise way of thinking changed the author’s attitude, and better prepared him to face the world and life. 

Chapter 7

Fate vs. Free Will

“We will do what others expect of us,” Wes said. “If they expect us to graduate, we will graduate […] If they expect us to go to jail, then that’s where we will end up too. At some point you lose control.” I sympathized with him, but I recoiled from his ability to shed responsibility seamlessly and drape it at the feet of others.” Pg. 126

This quote demonstrates that although fate may be an aspect in shaping lives, individual free will can change the future. The second Wes emphasizes the role of mentors, arguing that each person is affected by those around them, and learn from those around them, making everybody a product of the people who have influenced them. Conversely, the first Wes is shocked by this, and does not believe that others should be blamed or accredited completely for the successes or failures of another. This demonstrates that at many points, humans are offered little choice when it comes to who plays a role in shaping their lives, as family cannot be chosen; however, at the same time, each person is responsible for taking charge of their lives and making the ultimate decisions regarding their own personal futures and decisions as to who they wish to be.

The Future

“ The notion that life is transient, that it can come and go quickly, unexpectedly, had been with me since I had seen my own father die. In the Bronx, the idea of life’s impermanence underlined everything for kids my age- it drove some of us to a paralyzing apathy, stopped us from even thinking too far into the future. “ Pg. 133

As shown by the above quote, the future is an intimidating idea to many. As the author states, many kids living in the Bronx, where he spent much of his childhood, tried to avoid thinking and acting based upon what they believed would take place in the future.  Growing up around neighborhoods where death may be common due to poverty or crime clearly took a toll on the youngsters, and almost made a successful future seem out of the question for them. Consequently, giving little thought to the future, many children who grew up in harsher conditions had a harder time planning a better one for themselves, only trapping themselves where they are.

Drugs

“The sight of her coming off her high, stumbling to the bathroom, disgusted Wes. He saw this every day. The people who would line up around the corner for drugs. The people who would do anything to score. “ Pg. 138

The second Wes is clearly rattled by the fact that the mother of his two children is a drug addict, demonstrating both the toll drugs take on individuals, but the effects that carry over to their loved ones and those surrounding them. Moore speaks of the other people who would line up for drugs, illustrating that drug addiction was both widespread and difficult to overcome, showing that such substances could destroy individuals. Further, Wes is emotionally torn up by the fact that his wife is an addict, and that she is raising their children. This illustrates the fact that not only the addict is affected, as Wes must also go through the low’s included in drug addiction, and his children are brought up in an environment that many may deem unfit. Because of the influence of their parents, Wes’s children may only partake in such activities when they grow up, again, creating a cycle of poverty and crime.

“His shoulders slumped, his eyes downward. “I’m done man,” he said. “I want to get out. Do something different with my life. But I’m not sure what[…] I’m tired to running these streets.” Pg. 138

Similar to above, this quote demonstrates the destructive nature of drugs, but also goes into the fact that many wish to escape the game and may regret previous decisions to get involved. Wes is unsure as to what the rest of his life will hold for him; however, at this point in the story he is convinced that he must get out of the drug game and create a better life for himself and his family. Wes clearly sees that being involved with drugs has prevented him from making an honest living for his family, and that his wife’s addiction will eventually take a toll on his children.

Poverty

“He worked ten hours a day and came home with barely enough energy to play with his kids and barely enough money to feed and clothe them.” Pg. 144

A sad truth is revealed through this quote, regarding the process of leaving the drug game and living in poverty. Although Wes was serious about leaving drugs behind and getting another job, he only struggled financially and was unable to support his family. As a low-wage worker, he worked long hours for little profit, demonstrating the unfairness of the situation, and the difficulty of living in poverty. As seen later in the chapter, Wes returns to the drug game as he is unable to live of off working honestly. This shows the injustice of the world, and that in some cases, honesty and hard work may not be able to pull through, especially later in life when an education seems to not be a possibility. The story of Wes could be similar to that of others, and shows the difficulty of escaping poverty.

Title Justification Essay #2: Choices and Second Chances

Encompassing the teenage years of both Wes Moores, the chapters “Marking Territory”, “ Lost”, and “Hunted” from Wes Moore’s The Other Wes Moore, mark the transformations of both men into their future lives based on the choices they make and opportunities given. Entitled “Choices and Second Chances,” Wes Moore has appropriately named his second collection of chapters to align with his purpose of illustrating the importance of the decisions each person makes in shaping their own lives.  Faced with many choices and even second chances in their lives, both Wes Moores made major decisions in this section, their lives transforming into what they currently may resemble.

Wes Moore effectively includes many examples to show the consequences and importance of the decisions the two Wes Moores make, showing a correlation between the title of the section and the chapters.  As the author himself stated, “These forks in the road can happen so fast for young boys; within months or even weeks, their journeys can take a decisive and possible irrevocable turn.” (Pg. 95) Moore clearly emphasizes that in a person’s life, everything can change rapidly due to decisions made, and oftentimes, it is not possible to return to old ways.  Further demonstrated is the importance in making the right choices and thinking through decisions.  The author, Wes, began to contemplate his decisions, saying “I thought about my mother and how she would feel if this escalated any further. I thought about my father and the name he chose for me.” Pg. 121 Here it is possible to see the choice to not only think of your own future, but that of those you love as well.  In addition, both Wes Moores are offered second chances in their experiences, yet the difference comes in what they chose to do with such chances. The second Wes’s brother, Tony, warning him several times not to get into the drug game, stating that “if you won’t listen, that’s on you. You have potential to do so much more….” Ignoring such warnings, the second Wes only gets deeper into the drug game, and eventually, to the point of no return. Meanwhile, the first Wes learned to embrace military school and honor the sacrifices his family made for him, to better his life.

By appropriately aligning the section title to the chapters, Wes Moore is able to demonstrate that each individual person will be faced with difficult choices in life, which will shape the person they are. The decisions of the two Wes Moores clearly altered their futures, one becoming a successful writer (among other professions), while the other ended up in jail. The actions of both of the men were decisive in determining their futures, making the title “choices and second chances” a strong fit for this section of the lives of the two Wes Moores. 

Chapter 6

Importance of Education

“Not surprisingly, without a high school diploma or job training-and with a criminal record- Wes found it almost impossible to find a job to support his growing family.” Pg. 110

This quote demonstrates the importance of education in order to be able to succeed and support the lives of loved ones. As demonstrated above, the second Wes Moore was unable to find employment due to his lack of a proper education, lack of training, and criminal past. Wes’s inability to support his family reveals the consequences and terrible futures that many people may have should they not obtain an education, which in the modern world, has become necessary to find employment.

Drugs

“This was the crew. They would work together, fight together, stay together. An unbreakable bond united the crew- for many members, it was the only support system they had. It was family.” Pg. 111

This quote illustrates the fact that although the young boys are working in dealing illegal substances, they also feel belonging in their respective crews, and may not have other support systems outside of this, and are searching for a place to belong. As explained by the author, many young boys turned to drugs as a way to make money, or to make friends and gain respect. The tragedy of the above scenario is that these young boys have no other mentors to turn to, and no other family they feel they can trust besides their fellow gang members.

“…the drug game was raw capitalism on overdrive with bullets, a pyramid scheme whose base was dead bodies and ruined lives.” Pg 112

Wes Moore bleakly describes the hierarchy of the drug game, revealing that although at some point people may make money, in the long run they will be ruined by their actions. Moore reveals that the drug game is dangerous, and more importantly, more than likely to ruin the futures of those involved.

Role Models and Growing Up

“They made it clear that they cared if I succeeded, and eventually so did I. The financial strain Valley Forge brought on my mother was lessened significantly after the first year, when the school gave me academic, and later athletic, scholarships.” Pg. 115

Wes Moore’s experience at the Valley Forge school clearly changed his outlook on life, displaying the importance of having proper role models throughout one’s life to gain guidance. Prior to military school, Wes had not thought or cared about the future, yet through the guidance of various classmates and teachers at Valley Forge, he began to care about his academics, excelling at what he did. Wes became notably more responsible and serious towards his life. This displays the major part of role models in lives of children, and how those who surround students have large impacts upon them and how they choose to live their lives. 

“ But I had to let this one go. I had to look at the bigger picture. My assailant was unknown, unnamed, and in a car. […] I thought about my mother and how she would feel if this escalated any further. I thought about my father and the name he chose for me.” Pg. 121

Although Wes does wish to seek revenge, he refrains from doing so, thinking of others before himself. This demonstrates both the facts that his parents were positive role models in his life, and the fact that he has begun to grow up. Realizing that revenge was not the correct way to go, Wes made a mature decision that many adults would be expected to do, and ensured the safety of himself and his friend. This demonstrates the development of a thought process. Further, Wes expresses his thoughts concerning what his parents would say to him. This demonstrates their positive influence on Wes and the importance of having positive role models. Those around us make us who we are, often making role models a determining factor in the lives of individuals.