Author: Eva O.

Final Statement on “Pride and Prejudice”

On By Eva O.In Story PowerLeave a comment

“Pride and Prejudice” has definitely shifted my perspective of self, relationships, and the broader societal landscape. Jane Austen’s characters Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy give insight into human nature, societal expectations, and the power of personal growth. 

Both Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy have strong values and were reluctant to compromise them before their relationship. Elizabeth doesn’t let societal pressure change her values, while many of the other characters in the book let society’s expectations control their lives. Her refusal to conform to society’s expectations has inspired me to hold true to my own values and convictions. Throughout the book, she looks past superficial appearances, which serves as a reminder to approach others with empathy and understanding. Meanwhile, Darcy goes on a journey from arrogance to humility, which highlights the transformative potential of self-reflection and growth. Having witnessed his gradual realization of his flaws has inspired me to confront my own flaws and strive for continual improvement. 

Austen’s judgemental and satirical portrayal of 19th-century England prompted me to rethink the importance of contemporary issues such as class, gender, and societal expectations. The social hierarchy depicted in the novel urges me to reflect on the ways in which privilege and prejudice continue to be evident in interactions and institutions today. Elizabeth and Darcy overcome their initial prejudices and misconceptions, which leads them to a deep and meaningful connection rooted in mutual respect and admiration. Their love story persists regardless of the societal constraints and expectations they face, which ultimately highlights the theme of authentic connection. Their journey serves as a reminder for me to approach others with an open mind, with a willingness to challenge my own assumptions. 

As I reflect on the lessons I learned from “Pride and Prejudice,” I am reminded of the significant impact literature can have on our lives. Austen’s romantic novel has inspired me to engage more deeply with the world around me. I believe that reading this book has given me a new sense of empathy, humility, and conviction.

Love, Rosie: A Romantic Comedy Masterpiece

On By Eva O.In Comedy/SatireLeave a comment

According to Aristotle, a comedy is a “story of the rise in fortune of a sympathetic central character”. Among all of the romantic comedies, there are few that capture love, friendship, and the comical twists life throws our way as well as “Love, Rosie.”

In the movie, “Love, Rosie”, childhood best friends Rosie Dunne and Alex Stewart are followed for about ten years. The audience witnesses the highs and lows of their lives, including the missed opportunities and complexities of timing they endure. All of the awkward teenage moments and adult mishaps these characters experience while navigating their way through life are presented to the audience in a comedic light.

At the end of the movie, the timing is finally perfect for Alex and Rosie, and it seems that they will live happily ever after. Their happy ending fulfills Aristotle’s definition of a comedy, as well as the movie’s depiction of humor, resolution of conflict, and relatability to everyday relationships and challenges.

This movie beautifully captures the unpredictability of love and the consequences of missed chances. The audience is put through a rollercoaster of emotions, but is eventually put at ease by the end because of Rosie and Alex’s happy ending.

“The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” Satire

On By Eva O.In Comedy/SatireLeave a comment

Trevor Noah utilizes humor with social and political commentary in his show “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” to both inform and expose current events, politics, and the media. His use of humor, irony, and parody to critique the world’s current events make his show particularly satirical.

He is often mocking political figures, politicians, and leaders on his show. The people he’s making fun of are typically taken very seriously, but Noah impersonates, comments, and criticizes all of their inconsistencies and absurdities. His impersonations and jabs at public figures are often exaggerated. However, they expose the absurdity of the institution and society’s underwhelming response to these public figures’ actions. He is trying to highlight the ridiculousness of taking these futures so seriously and giving them positions of power when they act foolishly.

Trevor Noah conducts many interviews and correspondent reports that often include humor and satire. His humous tone when addressing serious issues, political decisions, and societal norms exposes the roots of the problems. He asks uncomfortable questions and confronts things people don’t want to talk about but with a joking tone. By doing so, he is criticizing society for its discomfort with current events and embarrassing public figures.

As a South African comedian, Trevor Noah brings up his own experience when addressing race, gender, and social norms. By sharing his own traumatic stories with a light tone, he is understating the seriousness of the issues surrounding the stories. His humorous tone makes the audience uncomfortable, thus forcing them to face these serious issues.

Madness…or Wisdom?

On By Eva O.In King LearLeave a comment

Throughout the play King Lear, many characters appear to be “going mad” because of their thoughts and actions. Most of what the fool says seems to be gibberish and his own name makes us think he shouldn’t be taken seriously. From his mocking to his songs, he represents the stereotypical fool. However, the fool is no fool. From the beginning of the play, he offers insight to Lear about the situation with Lear’s daughters by mocking the way he handled it. By making a joke out of Lear’s poor judgment in giving his cruel daughters the kingdom, the Fool is ultimately leading Lear to recognize Cordelia as his only daughter who genuinely cares about him.

As the play goes on, Lear appears to be going more and more mad, which reflects the state of his Kingdom. Both Lear and the kingdom are at their lowest points at the beginning of Act 3, scene 2, when Lear is out in the storm, babbling about how unfair the world is to him. As Lear spends more time in the storm, he begins to show genuine compassion for other people besides himself and starts to take accountability for the mistakes he has made. Lear’s madness leads him to a new perspective on life, which ultimately leads him to a fulfilling relationship with Cordelia.

The ultimate disguises of wisdom are demonstrated by Edgar and Kent, even though the audience is aware of both of their impersonations. These two characters hold morals and intelligence. Kent disguises himself to continue serving Lear, making him Lear’s most loyal and honest servant. Edgar is forced to disguise himself as a Poor Tom when Edmund tricks their father into believing Edgar is plotting against him. However, after Edgar reveals himself at the end of the play, he demonstrates forgiveness by helping his father.

Whether the audience is aware or not, the characters in King Lear who are portrayed as “mad” often are wiser than they appear, which promotes the importance of not making assumptions about people.

The Innocence of Childhood

On By Eva O.In Poetry1 Comment

During the pandemic, Taylor Swift released the album Folklore, which opened the door to Taylor’s whimsical imagination. The songs on this album are memories and stories with underlying themes such as romanticism, escapism, and empathy. However, in the song “seven“, Taylor writes about nostalgia and the type of innocence only a child holds.

Please picture me
In the trees
I hit my peak at seven
Feet
In the swing
Over the creek

This is the first line of the song and it connects the audience to Taylor’s childhood because she grew up on a Christmas tree farm. She uses vivid imagery to describe the whimsical place she grew up in. She also foreshadows the internal struggle she faces about losing her innocence by suggesting that she reached her peak at seven years old because of the line break before “Feet”.

And though I can’t recall your face
I still got love for you
Your braids like a pattern
Love you to the moon and to Saturn

Swift writes about her childhood friend, whose face she can’t remember, but nonetheless loves. She is using irony because we live in a society where physical appearance determines personal worth and success, but how meaningless it is to children because a child can love someone “to the moon and to Saturn” without even knowing what they look like. The exaggeration she uses for how much she loves her friend represents a child’s unconditional love.

I think your house is haunted
Your dad is always mad and that must be why
And I think you should come live with
Me and we can be pirates
Then you won’t have to cry

These lines show Taylor trying to rescue her friend from her abusive father. She is describing the innocence of how children deal with trauma. By comparing her friend’s house to a haunted house, she is suggesting that all of the bad things in life are at that house and that there is a simple solution for her friend: leaving the house to become pirates with her.

Before I learned civility
I used to scream
Ferociously
Any time I wanted

Tayor writes that it is impossible to unlearn civility. She is comparing her ability to scream, and to scream loudly to freedom, which she feels that she has lost by growing up. She mourns her adolescence, which contains her purity and innocence. She misses the time when she wasn’t confined by society’s expectations. This is a nostalgic song about Taylor’s childhood, and how she can never relive those years. So, she treasures and memorializes them in her songs. They will be “passed down like folk songs”.

Character Development in Relationships

On By Eva O.In Trust (film) - Hal Hartley

In both the movie Truth and the novel Exit West, the main characters are a man and a woman. And, in both pieces, the man and woman are romantically involved. Both people in both relationships encounter some type of change in their personality or values that result from spending time with the other person.

In the movie Truth, the couple being followed includes a teenage girl named Maria and a man named Mathew. We are introduced to Maria at the beginning of the movie, and she is very disrespectful to her parents. We can tell that she is trying to fit into society’s mold for girls around her age because she wears bright clothing, doesn’t try in school, and refuses to wear her glasses, even though she can’t see without them. We are introduced to Mathew as a character who isolates himself from the rest of the world and does whatever he wants. As these characters get to know each other and build a relationship, both of them change drastically. Maria begins to wear dull colors, educate herself, and finally wear her glasses. She stops caring about what society will think of her and starts to focus on things that she actually cares about. Mathew gets his old job back, even though he hated it so that he can support Maria.

In the novel Exit West, we are introduced to Nadia as an independent woman who seeks control over her life. On the other hand, Saeed is introduced as more of a reserved character who is comfortable with his life. As their relationship advances, Nadia becomes more dependent on Saeed and starts to understand familial connections and values. Saeed starts to take more risks as he gets closer to Nadia like going through the magical door and leaving his father.

Both relationships represent the significant impacts people can have on each other. Someone might think that they are absolutely certain about the type of person they are, but that can all change based on the various effects others have on them.

Juxtaposing Relationships in The Stranger

On By Eva O.In Stranger2 Comments

Throughout the story, Meursault is uninterested in experiencing meaningful relationships with the people in his life. Or, he is unable to. It is up for interpretation for the reader to decide if Meursault’s attitude toward other people is an intentional choice. However, it is abundantly clear that the people in Meursault’s life do not have significant relationships with him. For example, he sent his own mother to an old people’s home when he ran out of things to talk to her about. He freely admits that he isn’t in love with his romantic interest; Marie. He tells her that he doesn’t care about getting married.

Meursault’s surface-level relationships are juxtaposed with many complex relationships between other characters. For example, Raymond and his mistress have a very complicated relationship. While it isn’t exactly a healthy relationship, it is dramatic and passionate. Meursault finds out that his mom, even towards the end of her life, finds love with a man named Thomas Perez. Even the relationship between Salamano and his dog is an example of an emotional connection.

All of these passionate relationships that the other characters in Meursault’s life experience contrast with the material ones Meursault has. For some people, being surrounded by all of these meaningful relationships would make them jealous. But, it seems that Meursault doesn’t even realize he is missing out on anything, and is perfectly content with the relationships in his life.

The Patriarchy Persists!

On By Eva O.In Short Stories

While reading “The Secret Woman” by Colette, I kept noticing stereotypical gender roles and expectations. There is blatant sexism throughout the entire story. This story encaptures the various impacts these gender roles have on Irene, who enjoys spending her time at a costume ball.

Irene and her husband were supposed to go to the ball together, but her husband tells her that he can’t go anymore because he has to meet with a patient. When he proposes that Irene go to the ball by herself, she is frustrated that he even suggested it and says, “Can you see me in a crowd, at the mercy of all those hands”. She feels embarrassed for going to these costume balls by herself because of the expectations society has set for women.

These discriminatory gender roles continue throughout the story when the husband sneaks to the costume ball and spies on his wife. He is frustrated with his wife for being there and expresses feelings of shame towards her. The whole time, he is bashing her for being at the ball, he is disregarding the fact that he is there too and she could have a reason to be upset with him.

If society hadn’t set such strict expectations for women, Ira might not have had to hide that she enjoyed going to these costume parties. Maybe she wouldn’t even feel the need to go to them because she would be able to feel comfortable enough to be herself.