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Eng. IV Assignments, information
Frankenstein
APE IV due dates, assignments, etc.
Mar. 28 Movie, Gattica or (my choice-- Mary Shelley bio) Begin Frankenstein April 1-Blog April 2 Chapters 1-4, Frankenstein April 3 Chapter 5 and essays in class April 7 Through Chapter 7 April 9 Through Vol II, Chap. I & II April 21 Through Chap. III of VOLUME III Extra credit for your own copy! In-class writing MC practice
APE III due dates and assignments
Arg. Against Nat'l ID Cards, Ques. 3 p. 616, TIA Mar. 24 MC Practice, 5 Steps, p. 247 Mar. 28 Arg. Paper Peer Reviews April 1 April 2-Begin The Things They Carried ACT Prep Course April 4 FINAL DRAFT ARG. PAPER APRIL 7 MAP TESTING April 8-10 TTTC through p 38 April 11 TTTC through p 61 by April 14 APE III TEST MAY 14 Final Book review May
I think obviously Edgar has some mental disability. Wanting to help his own father commit suicide goes against all the principles laid down by Helatrobus. He shows some signs of incredibly low thetan levels
Obviously it is essential to their roles and relationship. Right before his father jumps/faints, Edgar says, "Why I do trifle thus with his despair / Is done to cure it" (4.6.35-6). I didn't quite understand exactly what that meant, so I looked up the modern translation. It states, "I'm toying with his despair to cure him of it." If you think of it that way, Edgar's actions make sense. While allowing his father to believe that he is going to commit suicide seems harsh, Edgar does it with the best of intentions. He knows that his father will never be able to get past the guilt of abandoning him without punishing himself first. Gloucester knows that he should have trusted his son in the first place. In addition, Gloucester's desire to kill himself is rooted in his lost ability to see good in the world. Granted, he eyes were just gorged out and it's understandable that he's slightly bitter. When Gloucester wakes up, Edgar tells him that a devil allowed him to jump and that he was saved by the gods. Edgar is trying to force Gloucester to believe that he is worth saving--that he is forgiven by the gods for his sin--and Edgar manipulates Gloucester into believing that the gods see good in the world (and in him), so he should take care of his life. Basically, Edgar shocks him into reevaluating his view on the world.
The act shows that Edgar truly cares about his father--much like Cordelia truly cares about Lear. They are very similar characters--forsaken and redeemed. Unfortunately, in my opinion, the whole scene also pegs Gloucester as easily fooled and unable to learn from his mistakes. I suppose in the long run that this doesn't really mean anything, but I just found it kind of funny. He was told that Edgar was plotting to kill him and he believed it. Then he was told that the gods saved him from certain death and he believed it. Idiot.
Of course it's essential. Edgar actually says that he's playing with his father's emotions and feeding off his despair to cure him. Edgar's actions make sense once everything is explained. Although letting his father think that he has committed suicide seems way over-the-top, "...it was all with the best of intentions." Wow, sorry. Had a Travis moment. Anyway, Edgar knows his father will never be able to get past his guilt (from abandoning Edgar) until he has beat himself up over it (or jumped off a cliff, if you want to get literal). Gloucester knows that he should have trusted his son in the first place, and his desire to kill himself stems from his inability to see good in the world. I mean, his eyes WERE just gorged out--it's understandable that he's slightly bitter. Gloucester wakes up, and Edgar tells him that a devil allowed him to jump but that he was saved by the gods. Edgar manipulates Gloucester into believing that the gods see good in the world and have forgiven him, so he should take care of his life. Talk about a shock effect, but the act shows that Edgar truly cares about his father. And whilte this points out how terribly gullible Gloucester is, I suppose that it's irrelevant. But it definitely does not endear me to him. What a pushover.
7 comments:
I think obviously Edgar has some mental disability. Wanting to help his own father commit suicide goes against all the principles laid down by Helatrobus. He shows some signs of incredibly low thetan levels
Did somebody say "suicide"!! I love suicides if everyone wants to meet this weekend you can all tryout my new Kool-Aid!!
Obviously it is essential to their roles and relationship. Right before his father jumps/faints, Edgar says, "Why I do trifle thus with his despair / Is done to cure it" (4.6.35-6). I didn't quite understand exactly what that meant, so I looked up the modern translation. It states, "I'm toying with his despair to cure him of it." If you think of it that way, Edgar's actions make sense. While allowing his father to believe that he is going to commit suicide seems harsh, Edgar does it with the best of intentions. He knows that his father will never be able to get past the guilt of abandoning him without punishing himself first. Gloucester knows that he should have trusted his son in the first place. In addition, Gloucester's desire to kill himself is rooted in his lost ability to see good in the world. Granted, he eyes were just gorged out and it's understandable that he's slightly bitter. When Gloucester wakes up, Edgar tells him that a devil allowed him to jump and that he was saved by the gods. Edgar is trying to force Gloucester to believe that he is worth saving--that he is forgiven by the gods for his sin--and Edgar manipulates Gloucester into believing that the gods see good in the world (and in him), so he should take care of his life. Basically, Edgar shocks him into reevaluating his view on the world.
The act shows that Edgar truly cares about his father--much like Cordelia truly cares about Lear. They are very similar characters--forsaken and redeemed. Unfortunately, in my opinion, the whole scene also pegs Gloucester as easily fooled and unable to learn from his mistakes. I suppose in the long run that this doesn't really mean anything, but I just found it kind of funny. He was told that Edgar was plotting to kill him and he believed it. Then he was told that the gods saved him from certain death and he believed it. Idiot.
Wow. That was longer than I had intended. I apologize for the time it takes to read all of that...
Of course it's essential. Edgar actually says that he's playing with his father's emotions and feeding off his despair to cure him. Edgar's actions make sense once everything is explained. Although letting his father think that he has committed suicide seems way over-the-top, "...it was all with the best of intentions." Wow, sorry. Had a Travis moment. Anyway, Edgar knows his father will never be able to get past his guilt (from abandoning Edgar) until he has beat himself up over it (or jumped off a cliff, if you want to get literal). Gloucester knows that he should have trusted his son in the first place, and his desire to kill himself stems from his inability to see good in the world. I mean, his eyes WERE just gorged out--it's understandable that he's slightly bitter. Gloucester wakes up, and Edgar tells him that a devil allowed him to jump but that he was saved by the gods. Edgar manipulates Gloucester into believing that the gods see good in the world and have forgiven him, so he should take care of his life. Talk about a shock effect, but the act shows that Edgar truly cares about his father. And whilte this points out how terribly gullible Gloucester is, I suppose that it's irrelevant. But it definitely does not endear me to him. What a pushover.
....and apparently I should read other comments before I post my own, since I pretty much reiterated what Ali said. Sorry about that.
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