Individual Challenge I -- "Let's Be Honest... (Horatio's Thoughts on Current Events)"

This whole “Disease spreading throughout Denmark” scandal is turning into a big mess.


I’m starting to wonder if I should have told you about that ghost in the first place… Maybe, just maybe, if I hadn’t said a word, I’d be able to get a good night’s sleep around here without hearing of people being murdered behind curtains and others getting shipped off to England for ‘bad behaviour’.


Believe me, I know some pretty unusual things have been happening, your uncle being your dad and your mother being your aunt and whatnot, but you may have been going a little over the top lately. Yes, I’ll swear to secrecy, but only because I’m your friend. Well, and because that ghost’s loud noises are really starting to get on my nerves.


You and I both know Claudius is guilty, we saw his guilt-stricken eyes as he ran out of the theatre. Well, that, or he just really didn’t like the acting.


I appreciate the fact you can trust me with everything that’s going on, I really do, but how long is this little escapade going to last? You moped around for quite some time, and nowadays you’ve just been losing a battle against hesitation. You speak of retaliation all the time, but have you done anything yet? This whole situation screams “Something’s eventually going to backfire”, but of course that wouldn’t stop you, being a believer in fate and all.


Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about the “What if…?” situations, you’re way too much of a thinker to have forgotten about them. What if you’re stopped from getting your revenge? Say you do get your revenge, what would come after? All these factors weighing against you are sure to turn a man crazy… Well, that explains a lot.


Honestly, Ophelia’s scared half to death from your behavio-- ... Oh, don’t look now, there went the rest of her.


Oh, and check out Laertes, he doesn’t seem too impressed with what’s happened around here. I suppose you did kill his father, but then again, I’d be a little on edge too if someone was sneaking around behind curtains in my mom’s bed chamber. That’s both odd and creepy.


Now, about that Fortinbras fellow, he’s somebody I could see being a big part of our future. Always focused on his motives, seeing them through to the end, that’s pretty admirable... It’s a shame that him and Laertes are around, they’re really starting to make you look like you’re all talk.


You know, maybe you could pull through on this. I mean, eventually they’re going to run out of people who want to oppose you. Not to mention, the people do seem to love you. Anybody who can bribe pirates to do his bidding has my vote, that’s for sure.




…




Oh, Hamlet… How much did you hear of that?

Individual Resistance III

Individual Resistance II

Indiv. Resistance II on Prezi

Philosophers and their Effect on Classical Liberalism

If I had to choose one philosopher that my beliefs were closest to, I would have to choose John Locke. I strongly agree that the members of society should be free to have the power to make their own decisions and let their voices be heard, while having the government work as a supervising figure to assist in making the lives of individuals run more smoothly. I also believe that members of society should have their own rights and privileges (as granted from 'Individual Rights & Freedoms' in Classical Liberalism). When people think their opinions are not being heard, they feel excluded from the society and neglected from their government, resulting in overall unhappiness. With provided freedoms, people instead feel welcome and acknowledged, knowing their lives can be all the more plentiful and successful with the government providing benefits that the individuals rightfully deserve.

The Grapes of Philosophy (Brandon, Nicholas, Quinnlyn, Victoria, and Hannah)

 (View Video Here)

Grapes of Wrath -- "Self-Preservation" Critical Response

November 17, 2010

The novel The Grapes of Wrath has a strong underlined message regarding self-preservation and benefits and/or consequences that can occur as a result of the action. Through plot progression and numerous forms of character development, author John Steinbeck strives to make a point that actions based on the needs and well-being of a single individual cannot go unheeded without misfortune following closely behind. Alongside this thought, Steinbeck also brings forth the idea that choices and deeds based on sustaining the interests of a group are more likely to promote prosperity and success.

The idea of individuals facing hardship as a result of their own selfish doing can be related from Steinbeck’s words directly to the everyday individual in real-life society. Through portraying images that can be conveyed to the novel’s readers, the author brings forth a way of trying to interpret that the thought that selfishness will only set back the everyday individual when it comes to success. For example, Rose of Sharon was a prime example throughout the novel as a character that faced misfortune after misfortune from her own selfishness. Throughout the Joad family’s journey to California, Rose of Sharon was completely absorbed in the well-being of her and her unborn child, which restricted her from contributing to the group’s needs for survival. Time and time again throughout the progression of the plot, many of the setbacks that occur for the family have a direct relation to Rose of Sharon’s individual situation, such as Connie Rivers’ departure or her baby being conceived as a stillborn. Upon reaching the final chapter of the novel, after basically losing everything she once had besides her family, Rose of Sharon was presented an opportunity to redeem herself for her actions, providing sustenance for a man about to perish from starvation, and ultimately changing how readers view her from a spoiled, selfish perception to one of a more giving figure.

Alongside Rose of Sharon’s endeavors, the consequences for selfishness were also portrayed through how people acted in the camps throughout California where the migrants thrived and lived collectively. In the establishments, power was given to the Okies, allowing for them to create their own system of governing and control. Through this, an organized method of cooperation was established to create a form a society where everybody worked together to help provide the needs of everyone, instead of simply the needs of the few. As a consequence, anybody taking action strictly to preserve their own well-being without assisting the well-being of others would face ejection from the camp they are residing in, as well as being ostracized from all of the other camp communities in California. This drastic case of action is a strong example of Steinbeck using the setting and plot of the novel to represent his belief of individualism and the negative repercussions that arise because of it. Having such an over-the-top course of action to punish those who were responsible for going against the beliefs of the majority of the novel’s characters shows just how loyal the author is to his own beliefs, as well as his opinions on judgment for those who decide against those beliefs in a drastic situation.

Given the circumstance of the Joads, and all other Okies for that matter, it is not surprising for an individual in The Grapes of Wrath to be tempted with the option to merely look out for oneself.  The external struggle of having the option to ignore surrounding members of society to benefit only a given individual creates an internal struggle that is difficult to resolve, in fiction or in truth, regardless of if selfishness is handled in an easier fashion. Though it is assumed to be the simpler solution to simply fix your own troubles rather than the troubles of everybody around you, bad luck will most likely follow closely behind if you neglect the others who live among you. Steinbeck uses Rose of Sharon and the California camps as a way to explain to readers that we must work collectively as a group if we want to experience the greatest possible benefit in our own situations. Although it is fair to say that individualism and collectivism, when alone, have their own unique positive and negative values, the author believes that our responsibilities are best handled together if we want to achieve the greatest form of prosperity available.

Personal Response -- 'Pinocchio'

November 12, 2010

When a puppeteer performs his craft, the illusion of the marionette having free will and control is perceived. In modern day society, many individuals can easily play the role of the unknowing puppet, completely under the presumption that their lives and actions are guided by their own hand. However, in many of those cases, what seems to be the truth is not justly so.

Keith Carter’s “Pinocchio” displays the puppet as a force of its own, unaware of the faded controller following closely behind. With this concept being implied, the doll believes it has a will of his own to carefully do whatever he pleases, even though his actions are carefully being monitored and subtly guided by the puppeteer. Many examples of the very same situation can be examined and acknowledged in our everyday lives. For example, young children roam freely and relentlessly, trying to explore and gain as much experience in the world as humanly possible, given their situation. However, these boundaries are restricted when a child’s parents are straggling closely behind to ensure that he/she is guided in the safest direction. Given any circumstance, child, puppet or anybody else, an individual’s urge to promote their own well-being always has the ability to be hindered by internal or external demands.

In such a situation as Pinocchio, there is no internal struggle, seeing as the puppet believes it has all the control it wants. However, bringing the truth into play, it can be seen that the puppet master is responsible for a great deal of external conflict, seeing as he knows the truth about who really has the control. The figure that is actually in control of the puppet is the one pulling the ‘strings’, ensuring that the pawn never actually has the ability to pursue personal well-being without the approval and action of the master.

In my own personal experience, I have also seen people I have known blindly move forward with their own self-benefit as their intent, only to eventually realize that the control they believed to have was only there because it was allowed by somebody else. Years ago, a friend of mine by the name of Tyller had dealt with his parents for the last time. He was completely opposed to the rules they had laid out for him, and he wanted out of that kind of lifestyle. After thinking everything through, he had decided to leave home and start living away from his family, bringing him a newfound sense of freedom. Tyller packed up all the things he thought he’d need to manage away from home, and left. Being only thirteen years old, he didn’t have many places to stay or much of a sense of direction regarding where to do. Making due, Tyller managed to last away from home for numerous days, staying the night at friends’ houses and surviving off of the money he had saved since he was young. After running out of places to stay, he decided he was going to leave town. Having no vehicle or mode of transportation other than his legs, the young boy asked one of his friends’ parents for a ride to a nearby town. The father of the family agreed, which surprised Tyller, on the condition that he would stay for supper. Acknowledged as a simple request, Tyller easily agreed. Shortly after the meal, he was asked to make his way outside to wait for when the parent was ready. Upon opening the front door to the house, Tyller saw his parents parked in their own vehicle right outside the house. He later found out that his parents knew of his ideals, and had been keeping tabs on him ever since the first night, thanks to the guardians of each friend along the way. Tyller thought he had all the control in the world, however, the truth was quite the opposite.

Knowing if the power of control is truthfully your own is a difficult thing to figure out. In most, if not all cases, there are always strings being pulled to try and guide you upon the path of someone else’s preference, and it is your will alone that has the sheer strength to combat it. Though you may not come out victorious, or you may end up merely thinking you are victorious, human nature does not simply allow us to lie down and face the music.