Menemac Graphic

Jobs
Bloodhounds: Hunt animals and skin them
Carpenteam: Build shelter from trees
Sky Eagles/Foresters: Scan the island and check for planes or ships, as well as find fruit or fruit-bearing plants
Flammenwerfers: Tend to the fire and cook any meat found

Lord of the Flies Character Entry (Piggy)

That bloody Jack Merridew took a jab at me twice and my specs fell off my face. One of the lens cracked on the rocks and now I got me one eye left to see. Without my specs, I can't see nothing, which doesn't seem to matter to anyone here. But what about our fire? Without my specs, we got no fire and no way to be rescued. If his hunters had kept watch to make sure the fire didn't go out, that ship Ralph saw could have come to rescue us.

He didn't give me a piece of meat later. Simon offered his to me, which I'm grateful for. Jack complained how I didn't hunt nor help finding a pig, even though Ralph and Simon put no effort to their hunt either. Ralph and Simon worked on the huts while the littluns played or bathed or scavenged for fruit. It wasn't my fault they hadn't been doing anything.

The way I stand among everyone, being called "Piggy," because of Ralph and "Fatty," a number of times, it's not fair. Even with the conch, no one listens to me, except for Jack and Ralph. It's just like what everyone did to me before, call me "Piggy" and ignore me a lot. I always sit out of their way and I'm by myself all the time. It's hard for me to try and be with everyone when they don't like me. When will they understand?

Macbeth Literary Analysis (FINAL DRAFT)

Greed, being noted as a deadly sin, is the act of man's selfishness and desire that will benefit only them. The actions taken to achieve that desire can end up killing or corrupting the one with the selfish goal. In the gruesome novel Macbeth, the main character uses murderous attempts to achieve his goal and keep people from taking it away from him, which in the end made him a madman that was killed. Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, shows how the consequences of man's greed can turn into their own destruction, and that one must avoid temptation of a selfish goal.

The start of greed comes with a thought that is brought up by someone or an outside source, then as the idea settles in, doubts and a warped form of "a conscience" lead to a turn to a stronger desire. "All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis!/All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!/ All hail Macbeth! that shalt be king hereafter." (1.3.48-9) The character Macbeth was fated with a general desire of man to harness power that comes with the title of a ruler. With the thought rooted into Macbeth's mind, his thoughts will rejoice at the fact that his fate brings good fortune, but begin to warp with how fast he wants this power. "Art thou afeard/ To be the same in thine own act and valour/As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that/Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life,/And live a coward in thine own esteem" (1.7.39-43) The doubts that creep in warp the mind toward the selfish goal, persuading the person through the idea that they could be a coward for not wanting to take action. Manipulating the mind so it bends to a dark thought can lead to consequences that are unintended, often the death of the person who first desired their goal. Macbeth's greed was planted in him upon hearing his fate, and then sprouted and grown by the persuasion of his wife, successfully convincing him that his fate is what he wants, and he wanted it fast.

When a person sees good fortune in their fate, they bring every possibly way to earn it and keep it, a result of greed's hunger for power. "Thou marshall'st me the way that I was going,/And such an instrument I was to use!" (2.1.42-3) Macbeth wanted to earn the power of a king quickly, and planned to kill the king in order to become one himself, which was later encouraged by the temptation of his wife. The action was dirty and horrid, yet Macbeth performed it anyway for the sake of his desire. "To be thus is nothing,/But to be safely thus: our fears in Banquo/Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature/Reigns that which would be feared." (3.1.48-50) Along with Macbeth's feared his reign going to the line of Banquo's sons as heirs. Macbeth demanded his sole power selfishly, going as far as to make sure Banquo and his sons never take away his power by any means necessary. The greed that sprouted in Macbeth grew with his obsession in keeping power to himself, driving him to commit terrible deeds.

The setting sun of greed in man is the destruction of oneself, both mentally and physically. "Thou canst not say I did it: never shake/Thy gory locks at me." (3.4.52) Macbeth was fried in the mind due to the death of Banquo setting his guilt. Despite his initial ill thoughts, his mind erodes as his confuses himself over thinking who knew what he did and who didn't. "I have no words:/My voice is in my sword, thou bloodier villain/Than terms can give thee out!" (5.7.36-7) Macbeth's greed comes to a fall with his death, the consequences of his desires and carrying out the actions he felt were necessary coming back to haunt him. The one who killed him knew Macbeth's crimes and his warped mind, therefore ending him to stop further crimes so long as Macbeth ruled. Had Macbeth not performed these deeds, regardless of knowing his fate or not, his death wouldn't have been untimely.

The order of greed laid out for Macbeth, warping the mind, committing the crimes, losing his life, came about with his desires taking root. In Shakespeare's Macbeth, a man's greed for their selfish desire can result in their own demise, therefore one must avoid temptation of a selfish goal. Humans are easily tempted by thoughts or ideas that revolve around something they wish to obtain, leading to the process of greed's rise and fall. Noting the greed in humans, it's needed to stay away from thoughts that can corrupt the mind and bring unintended disaster.

Macbeth Act II Review with Quotes

1. In your opinion, is Lady Macbeth a cold-blooded murderer? Why or why not?
Lady Macbeth is a cold-blooded murderer, considering her lack of guilt from tempting her husband and feigning innocence while she made two servants look guilty. She refused to see her husband have second thoughts before and after the deed, scolding him anytime he doubted her.

"My hands are of your colour; but I shame/to wear a heart so white" (2.2.64 - 5)
"Give me the daggers;the sleeping and the dead/are but as pictures; 'tis the eyes of childhood/that fears a painted devil" (2. 2. 53 - 7)

2. Lady Macbeth has her own antics throughout the play. Why does Lady Macbeth faint in Act II? 
Does it serve its purpose? Explain.

Lady Macbeth fainted to fake her surprise and sudden slip of focus and consciousness when she heard that the king was dead. It served the purpose of declaring her innocent since she acted as if she never knew it was going to happen and was struck with disbelief upon hearing the news, and therefore being left out of the scene.

"Look to the lady" (2.3.131)
"Look to the lady" (2.3.140)

3. How does Macbeth's attitude toward Duncan change after the murder?

Macbeth's attitude toward the king becomes doubtful and scared, feeling extremely guilty and fearful that he had committed the crime and sensing that the world will know and haunt him for his crime.

"'Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor/Shall sleep no more: Macbeth shall sleep no more" (2.2.42-3)
"I am afraid to think what I have done;/Look on't again I dare not" (2.2.51-2)

4. If so pressuring on Macbeth, why didn't Lady Macbeth kill the king instead of Macbeth?

Lady Macbeth didn't kill the king as she muttered to herself that the king looked like her father in his sleep. Assuming that she cared for her father, seeing a reflection of him in the victim prevented her from performing the task herself.

"Had he no resembled/my father as he slept, I had done't" (2.2.12-3)

5. Now that Macbeth has killed the king, do you think he must do anything else to reign as king? Explain your answer.

Macbeth may have to do something about Malcolm and Donalbain, since they are the king's sons and therefore one of them will inherit the throne, even if Macbeth was given much honor by the king.

"I'll to England/To Ireland" (2.3.155-6)
This murderous shaft that's shot/Hath not yet lighted, and our safest way/is to avoid the aim. Therefore to horse/and let us not be dainty of leave-taking/but shift away:there's a warrant in that theft/which steals itself when there's no mercy left"(2.3.160-5)

Partner Macbeth Pre-Discussion

1. Is evil ingrained in human nature? That is, are some people just “born evil,” or is evil caused by circumstance or environment? 

Evil is caused by circumstance and environment, as when a child grows and learns in the world, they experience the goods and bads. Whichever has the higher influence, the child grows to live by what they understand and believe more. In the case where the child is exposed to more evil and corrupted actions, they tend to grow evil themselves.

2. Are our lives determined by fate, or by the acts of our free will?

Our lives are determined by our actions, hence "actions have consequences." Fate is more of a prediction on what our lives could become, and if we believe in it enough, we turn our actions in every way to go the path of our fate. It's the free will of our actions that control our lives.

3. Is redemption truly possible? That is, is it possible to commit an act of genuine evil and truly recover from it? 

Redemption is possible and able to recover from if the person who committed the act and those who witnessed and knew what happened feel that the action is long forgiven and forgotten.

4.Is it possible to admire or respect a person whom you know has committed acts of genuine evil?

It's possible to admire someone of genuinely evil acts if the admirer is a person who adores evil and holds a corrupted state of mind. The actions an evil person committed can be seen respectively by someone who finds such a thing to be prideful of.

5. Do “the ends justify the means”? That is, if one uses morally evil methods to acquire a goal, is that goal forever tainted or polluted by the actions one has taken to achieve it? 

The goal is tainted forever by the actions taken, since it has finished and stands as an accomplishment with an evil past. Even if the result is a morally good one, the steps taken do not give it a better light on perceiving it as "a good outcome."

Macbeth Anticipation Guide

1.     Behind every great man is a great woman (every great man is supported, guided, helped and even pushed by a great woman).
     I agree to this statement, because everyone is supported by others, at least one being a woman. Women give strong support no matter the situation. I've been supported by my mom for years, pushing me to what I aim to do and to get past what I dislike.

2.     Witches, demons, and evil spirits actually exist.
     I agree to this statement, because sometimes in the world there are some things that aren't humanely feasible or explainable. The supernatural are difficult to understand, but the actions that we see show proof of their existence and powers. I remember a couple friends and I rushing out of a bathroom when someone used an incantation to try and summon a spirit.

3.     Sometimes it is necessary to do something wrong to get what you want.
     I disagree to this statement, because there's usually a moral way to obtain something. When there a wrong way, there's always a right way to do something. Instead of stealing something, I could always just buy it.

4.     What goes around comes around (karma).
     I agree to this statement, because actions have consequences that have a chance of backfiring. Either a coincidence or simple revenge, anything can happen depending on your initial action. I showed my sister a scary video with a screaming witch once, and some time later a video similar to the one I showed popped back at me.

5.     Human beings are easily tempted by things they want, even if it’s wrong.
     I agree to this statement, because temptation is a human characteristic of the mind that reflects true desires. Depending on the mindset of the human's morality, the ease of temptation can vary and lead to a reality of actually performing the action they're tempted into. When a student was bullying me, for a while I was tempted to get back at him, even it it was wrong. I never went through with hurting him.

6.     If someone feels that the ruler/s of his/her country is destroying the country, that person should try to overthrow the ruler/s.
     I disagree with that statement, as it's only one person's feelings. If others share the same perspective as that person does, then the action has a chance of being carried out. People have disliked some presidents in the past, though nothing nothing drastic was done most of the time.

7.     There are circumstances or events that justify murdering someone.
     I disagree with that statement, as murdering doesn't justify anything. It leads to sadness and sometimes revenge, creating another scenario where someone will believe that murder is justice. It's been heard about a teen singer who was murdered. The brother of the victim considered revenge, but held back as it wasn't a good decision.

8.     Success is worth any price you have to pay.
     I disagree with that statement, as the goal to succeed isn't always the right one. The goal may be a bad one that's been made to look good by a different perspective, therefore leading to sometimes bad actions to achieve it. I succeeded once in getting another person to stop bothering me, but the steps I took were not right to do.

9.     Kings are appointed by God, and they rule as His representatives on Earth.
     I disagree with that statement, as it is the Pope who is God's representative on Earth. Kings are decided by bloodline or by recognition by the people. King Henry and all that followed were on the same royal bloodline.

10.  Your astrological forecast (your horoscope) is a good indicator of how your day will go.
     I agree with this statement, as reading it makes a psychological change in people. Given the forecast, it may turn the person's perspective of things to be better of worse. My horoscope once said I'll have a good day and a quiet read at night, which brightened my day because of the prediction. 

11.  Traitors should be executed.
     I disagree with this statement, because execution resolves immediate hate and brings slow regret. Depending on what the traitor had done and their actions when pit in the light, they can change and make a better turn. One of my past friends betrayed me, but as years went by they slowly realized their actions and redeemed themselves. 

Night Thesis and Quotes

Theme: In the novel, Night, the greed for power and endurance of pain in humans corrupts them to perform mortally inhumane acts of brutality against each other, the resulting death being tragic and terrible to ever occur.

Quotes
"... Franek knew where to touch me; he knew my weak point. My father had never done military service, and he never succeeded in marching in stop... this was Franek's chance to torment my father and to thrash him savagely every day."

"The Kapo gave a short speech. 'An ordinary prisoner has no right to meddle in other people's affairs... I'm obligated, therefore, to make it very clear to him once and for all.'... then I was aware of nothing but the strokes of the whip."

"... an old man dragging himself along on all fours... he had a bit of bread under his shirt... a shadow had just loomed up near him. The shadow threw itself upon him. Felled to the group, stunned with blows, the old man cried... he collapsed... and died amid the general indifference. Hi son searched him, took the bread, and began to devour it... two men had seen and hurled themselves upon him... when they withdrew, next to me were two corpses, side by side, the father and the son."

"his son had seen him losing ground, limping, staggering back to the rear of the column. He had seen him. And he had continued to  run on in front, letting the distance between them grow greater. A terrible thought loomed up in my head: he had wanted to get rid of his father! He had felt that his father was growing weak, he had believed that the end was near and had sought this separation in order to get rid of the burden, to free himself from an encumbrance which could lessen his own chances of survival."

"...soon a terrible word was circulating - selection. We knew what that meant. An SS man would examine us. Whenever he found a weak one, a musulman as we called them, he would write his number down: good for the crematory."

"One day... we saw three gallows rearing up in the assembly place, three black crows... three victims in chains - and one of them, the littler servant, the sad-eyed angel. The SS seemed more preoccupied, more disturbed than usual. To hang a young boy in front of thousands of spectators was no light matter... the tree victims mounted together onto the chairs. The three necks were placed at the same moment within the nooses... at a sign from the head of the camp, the three chairs tipped over."


Character: Witnessing traumatic circumstances and facing death at many corners, Elie Wiesel reflected the necessary determination to survive for yourself and those around you in the bleakest times of life.

Quotes
"I did not weep, and it pained me that I could not weep. But I had no more tears. And, in the depth of my being, in the recesses of my weakened conscience, could I have searched it, I might perhaps have found something like-free at last!"

"I ran off to look for my father. And at the same time I was afraid of having to wish him a Happy New Year when I no longer believed in it."

"Death wrapped itself around me till I was stifled. It stuck to me. I felt that I could touch it. The idea of dying, of no longer being, began to fascinate me. Not to exist any longer. Not to feel the horrible pains in my foot. Not to feel anything, neither weariness, nor cold, nor anything."

"I woke from my apathy just at the moment when two men came up to my father . I threw myself on top of his body. He was cold. I slapped him. I rubbed his hands, crying 'Father! Father! Wake up... He isn't dead! Not yet!' I set to work to slap him as hard as I could."

"'They're going to do another selection today... a decisive selection.' I was silent. He felt that his time was short... 'Don't talk like that, Father. I don't want you to say that. We shall see each other again this evening, after work.'"

"My father's presence was the only thing that stopped me... He was running at my side, out of breath, at the end of his strength, at his wit's end. I had no right to let myself die. What would he do without me? I was his only support."