King Lear Journal 4

"This seems a fair deserving, and must draw me
That which my father loses--no less than all.
The younger rises when the old doth fall." (3.3.23-25)

To me these lines mean that the kid only becomes the person the are meant to be in life when their parents are out of the picture. That the child can become the all mighty when the parent is reduced in their power( loses everything). In the play these lines specifically refer to the situation between the three sisters and King Lear. The father gave all he had to his daughters, his kingdom and dowery. All he did not give up were 100 knights, alas thoes ended up being taken away too, for his daughters made this a condition. SO in the play, the King loses all he had and while he lost everything his daughters gained everything. Highlighting the line, "which my father loses--no less than all." This is a blanket statement for many relationships between characters in this tragedy, when one loses, another gains. This idea of power changing hands, and who really holds the power is apparent through out the novel. I think this is very interesting, the idea of what someone can gain while and from when someone loses it all.

King Lear Journal 3

In King Lear I have chosen to track references to the stars and astronomy. Much of the beliefs and importance revolves around the stars and what they mean. In Act 1 scene 2, Edmund talks about how the stars can make a person do something they wouldn't normally do, "fools by heavenly compulsion;knaves, thieves and treachers by spherical predominance". In King Lear they use the stars to give them guidance as well as shift the blame onto something other than themselves. Edmund gives the stars power when he addresses the fact that the stars can control people and their actions. Again in act 2 scene 2, Kent addresses the influence the stars have on the people's lives at that time," Whose influence, like a wreath of radiant fire-on Phoebus' front-". When he says that the "Sun's forehead", which the sun is a star influences the place around them, that sets the world on fire, the stars have the power to control the surroundings. In both cases the stars have power over the people who worship and look to them for guidance.

King Lear Journal 2

"Then, I prithee, be merry; thy whit shall not go slipshod" (Shakespeare Act 1 scene 5, 11).
I think this quote illuminates what kind of relationship the King and his fool have. His fool calls the king "Nuncle", meaning uncle and is seen as a term of endearment. In return the King calls him boy. There relationship is much more deep than this though, as the fool constantly speaks in double entendres. Things he says can be interpreted in two ways, one being completely harmless, and the other a rude remark. His use of these shows the underlying contempt and his true feelings about the King. I think the fool sees himself in a place of protection, being the fool he can say things that no one else can say. When he says something he hides the meaning, not enabling the King to see the harsh meaning of what he said. Through all the hidden meaning the reader can see how the fool is smarter than the King. This highlights an important reason for doing this, Shakespeare relates his ideas that the higher up and not necessarily the highest and best at everything. That royalty is not as prestigious as it seems.

King Lear Journal 1

Discuss the relationship between power/wealth and love in Act 1 scene 1.

The main area we see a relationship between power/wealth and love is in the relationship and conflict surrounding King Lear and his daughter, Cordelia. He uses his power filled position as king to manipulate his daughters into telling him they love him for a piece of the kingdom. This tactic does not work on his youngest and favorite daughter Cordelia. This highlights the way that this relationship is used to get something you want. Lear uses his power to manipulate people into telling him that they love him, "Which of you shall we saydoth love us most,". Thus showing the unreal way that power and love are connected. Because his power is what he uses to be loved.
Another relationship is seen between wealth and love. We see the close link between the two after Cordelia is disowen by her father and loses her dowery. When this happens the Burgundy refuses to marry her. Thus showing the importance of money and wealth that he sets the score by in the relationship, "you have so lost a father- That you must lose a husband" (284-285).

Blood Wedding Journal 3

In Oedipus the King and Blood Wedding, both authors explore the idea of deceit. In Blood Wedding it is the story of a hidden love, and in Oedipus is the story of an untrue childhood. In Blood Wedding, the bride keeps her secrets of love and passion for Leonardo hidden from the bridegroom. When she runs off with him, it is a shock to all, "They ran away! They ran away! She and Leonardo! On the horse!" (Lorca 76). The bride lures everyone into a false sense of understanding and made them think she was happy with him husband to be. Through this deceit, Lorca create another element of interest and excitement, through the running off with a man who is not your betrothed. Another element that keeps the readers interest is that none of the characters saw it coming. This adds to the deceit and makes the blow even worse.

In Oedipus, his forged childhood and his skewed knowledge of his past. Oedipus has no clue that he had ben lied to about his life, "Polybus was nothing to you, thats why, not in blood" (Sophocles 218). Sophocles uses his character Oedipus to highlight the deceit that he feels in present in everyones life. The idea of not knowing the truth is clear in the life of Oedipus, but it goes on to highlight the way the deciet is only a big deal when you learn of it, not knowing is almost as blissful as it not being true.

Blood Wedding Journal 2

In Blood Wedding, Lorca uses very interesting images in his writing to highlight the importance of understanding the good things in life. In the beginning of Blood Wedding there is very little information to set the opening scene, "The room is painted yellow" (5), which the author does on purpose. He simply sets the scene so keep the readers focused on what is happening in the scene, and not on the scene itself. Th simplistic setting highlights the good things in life, it does this by not masking the scene. The reader can see what is going on in the scene clearly and because of this clarity it is possible to see the simple things that sometimes become hidden with extra stuff.

The imagery the author uses in his play allows the reader to see the good things in the characters lives because he leaves the scenes simple and unhampered by extra things that get in the way of what is really there. Another place in the play where we see simple imagery is on page 29, "The bride's father enters-an elderly man with shinning hair" this stage direction is simple and bare, yet the reader gets a lot out of this. Shinning hair, this image creates a sense of happiness and peace through the association we have of shinning angels. This simplistic way of setting up the scene and putting images into the readers head allows them to see what is really there, not a bunch of extra fluff. Without all the extra stuff one can see the true and good things that are now obvious. Because of this, one can see the simple amazing things that sometime get overlooked because of the scene.

Blood Wedding Journal 1

Dear Diary,

I don't know about this wedding. This is a big step, a very big step. He is a good man, I love him very much, i really do. Don't get me wrong but I am having mixed thoughts about our wedding. I try not to think about it too much, I want to spend my last days as an unmarried woman without any cares. The wedding has been set for thursday next, that is very soon. I am nervous about this. Did I mention that i have doubts?

Also, I sometimes catch myself thinking of Leonardo, staring out the window, dreaming of the past and my old life. The way he could tame and ride the wild horses, controlling them with his legs and hands. He had the more tense and set face of anyone i knew. He was always serious. Oh, I feel so guilty for what happened between us, not a day goes by where I do not think of our last day together. But he is in my past and he is not to be remembered any longer. I now have a loving bridegroom, my soon to be husband. Next thursday, oh this is so soon. And on my birthday too, my 22nd birthday. How will this work out, what does my future hold, for I can scarcely predict. Next thursday our two families will be bound and I will become a wife.