Author: Bella T

King Lear, his daughters, and their zodiac signs

On By Bella TIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

*was written before reading acts IV & V*

Reading King Lear has been a lot to say the least. Trying to decode Shakespeare’s language, follow the plot, and keep up with which character is which takes some effort. In the beginning it was hard for me to keep the them all straight, Kent in disguise, Kent not in disguise, Oswald,Burgundy, Regan, Goneril, they all blur together, But after studying them this semester, I see they all have distinct characteristics. I decided I could understand them better if I gave them zodiac signs, because they are very telling. I thought long and hard about who is which zodiac sign, and each one has specific intent. I am using the “USA Today ” definitions of signs. Different websites vary in different explanations of each sign, but USA Today what I chose to use.

King Lear is most definitely an Aries. Aries according to USA Today are bold, lively, and competitive. Which I think is very accurate to Lear. Although senile, and misguided, Lear is incredibly bold with his actions. For example, he is extremely bold for making his daughters profess their undying (and creepy) love to him in order to gain land from him. He is abdicating his role as King yet still wants to be treated as a king with 0 responsibilities as a king. I also think hes very bold for telling his daughters he hopes they become infertile. Additionally he also tries to victimize himself in the situation, which is common with other Aries’. On a positive side, aries’ do have the trait of being warm.I think Lear has this trait, he is very warm towards Fool and Kent when in the hovel. In act III he mentions how much he appreciates them during his big fight with Regan and Goneril.

Secondly is his eldest and middle daughters Goneril and Regan. Personally I think they are the same sign born within mere months of each other . A year apart but within the zodiac time frame of Leo. I think they are Leo’s for a multitude of reasons. A few standout traits I see between Leo’s and the girls is both are self serving, unapologetically ambitious, and charismatic. I find them unapologetically ambitious and self serving during their act II scene IV with King Lear. Although Lear is in the wrong, the way the sisters connivingly cut down Lear’s army and oust him out of essentially his own house is incredible. Additionally it is equally self serving how they have many castles and land but they wont house their own father and his entourage. I do find them charistimc though, they have a flamboyance ( like most Leo’s do) in the way they speak. For example in Act I scene I their professions of love to their father were very extravagent. For example Goneril says ” A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable” and Regan more than agrees with that statement saying ” I am made of that self mettle as my sister”. All of this is which is quite pompous shows how charismatic and enthusiastic they are to be so self serving take what they want.

Finally, Cordelia. Although she has not been heavily featured in the book Cordelia is definitely an Aquarius. She is an Aqaurius for all the right reasons. Aquarius’ just like Cordelia are truthful and intelligent. Cordelia showcases how shes truthful in act I scene I by telling her father how she loves him no less then any daughter should love a father. She says ” I cannot heave my heart into my mouth. I love your majesty According to my bond, no more no less.”. Which is incredibly truthful and honestly a little difficult to say id imagine. I think her saying that is a testament to her integrity and emotional intelligence. She is also brave like an Aquarius because she understands how she has lost her part of the kingdom yet takes it with stride.

I still have more to read in the novel, but i’m confident that these are their signs. Personally, I’m a capircorn, and they are always right so i’m probably right in my assumptions of their signs,’I still have more to read in the novel, but i’m confident that these are their signs. Personally, I’m a capircorn, and they are always right so i’m probably right in my assumptions of their signs. Just kidding.

2002 by Anne-Marie

On By Bella TIn Music Poetry3 Comments

The first time I heard “2002” by Anne-Marie from the album Speak Your Mind was on tik tok. I remember it being the background to a montage of someones happier moments. Although it was only a 60 second clip, there was just something about the song that felt so familiar. After listening to the full song I realized what it was. She had taken popular songs from her (and my childhood) and combined the lyrics in a really cool stanza.

Songs with all our childhood friends
And it went like this, say

Oops, I got 99 problems singing bye, bye, bye
Hold up, if you wanna go and take a ride with me
Better hit me, baby, one more time, uh

I really liked that last stanza because it incorporates 3 iconic songs from my childhood so smoothly. I had to listen to the song a few times before I even realized they way she had woven those lyrics in. In addition she uses a simile that is quite easy to imagine and understand.

The day you kissed my lips
Light as a feather

The overall theme of the song is nostalgia to her happier days. I think her lyrics embody it perfectly for anyone who grew up in late nineties and mid 2000’s. The poem uses rhyme and imagery as well to make the song catchy. The use of these devices within the song puts you in the memories of Anne-Marie’s childhood and where she is sourcing this story from.

Dancing on the hood in the middle of the woods
On an old Mustang, where we sang

I think this song is a great example of poetry because it uses many different poetic devices so fluidly and its also just a great upbeat song. In addition the purpose of this song is to remind you of childhood and somewhat transport you back, even for 3:08 seconds to times before real life hit. She sings in past tense because this song is a reflection for her. A reflection of all the time that has elapsed between being 11 years old (which she mentions in the song) and her adult self now.

Meursault is a freaking loser

On By Bella TIn Albert Camus4 Comments

Reading this book I had one consistent thought, ugh this dude is such a loser. I was quite angered with him throughout the book. Starting with Meursault aiding and abetting the domestic violence between the neighbor and his girlfriend. Its one thing to hear a beating and not say anything but its another to lure someone into a trap to be beaten. Especially when the reader and character are under the notion that she couldn’t win this fight. I found it incredibly frustrating his passiveness to that situation. Like who doesn’t have any remorse for willingly letting someone be beaten? No compassion or empathy? Yet with his mother’s death he exhibits some level of grief as he makes time out of his day to attend the funeral. With grief id assume its normal for someone to also understand the concept of empathy yet he proved me wrong. Finally, the way he treats his “girlfriend” Marie. I cannot POSSIBLY understand how she can just take his constant cold shoulder. Personally I wouldn’t take that disrespect but more power to you. So what does this all i mean? How can we possibly examine this book and its message without looking at the character who is the center of this story? There is no doubt Camus is a good writer, but is it a good story ? I understand not every main character has to be a hero, but they at minimum need to be interesting. And although intentional by Camus, i don’t think Meursault even has that. His quirks of being unempathetic and passive about death aren’t intriguing or interesting, just sad.

Drinking Coffee Elsewhere: Significance of the Title

On By Bella TIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Drinking Coffee Elsewhere covers so much ground in such a short story. I didn’t even realize the title was right there in the book until I reread it. Within the title lies such a deeper meaning. From Dina’s P.O.V I believe this phrase was an ode to what Dr.Raeburn mentioned about pretending. I felt it was somewhat unfair to criticize Dina for pretending or putting up walls when its clear shes had a rough time. On some level don’t we all pretend? Don’t we all make snide comments, or say things to protect ourselves from being hurt? Dina is portrayed as being out of touch with the world when she really is the closest iv’e seen to being in tune with her emotions. I do believe she was harsh when speaking to Heidi, but when you are so used to acting one way, its quite difficult to just change how you respond. The significance of this title is a complete circle back to her “pretending”. She is simply just someone who’s a little to honest. Which is a blessing and a curse.

Movie vs Book: Escape From Spiderhead Island

On By Bella TIn Film, George Saunders, Short Stories7 Comments

There is one conversation that can always divide avid book readers : When your favorite novel becomes a film, or say you see a film and realize its a book, which is better? Personally I tend to stick with “the book’s better so much more detail and allows you to really chew on the after math of the book” but that was until I watched Spiderhead on Netflix. Escape From Spiderhead Island is a short story by George Saunders with scifi undertones. This book explores the what if of if our emotions could be controlled by the tap of a button. Those on spiderhead island are the testing subjects and are forever bonded with a “Mobi Pack” the Mobi Pack injects chemicals into your blood streak to invoke a reaction from you for a short period of time. These reactions range from lust to mania to anger and even self reflection. Yet the book lacks detail on the subjects, why they are on this island they cant leave, and the true intensity the chemicals when put into the characters blood stream.This is where the movie comes in. 3 weeks prior to reading escape from spiderhead i watched the movie on Netflix. The characters in the film provide depth, purpose, and vividness to the story that the book simply could not etch across. For instance, within the movie, the audience sees why our main character is on spider island. Which is incredibly interesting as through the movie’s explanation subjects on spider island are incarcerated individuals serving time. The movie also outlines the rules, procedures within spiderhead day to day life , and functions of the Mobi Pack. In addition, the movie shows a darker side of Abnesti that the book doesnt really portray. So is this movie a win for books v movie adaption? Its a yes in my book.