Insanity in Wide Sargasso Sea Paragraph

Characters within the novel are not inherently mad but instead, they are driven to madness through a range of traumatic events and the propagation of hegemonic and patriarchal attitudes. Annette's descent into madness was driven by situational factors instead of a result of her disposition. The traumatic experiences Annette faces such as the fire at Coulibri which causes the death of her son placed her in a vulnerable state. From this state she was driven to madness as Christophine explains, "They drive her to it. When she lose her son she lose herself for a while and they shut her away. They tell her she is mad, they act like she is mad. " Antoinette experiences a journey into madness similar to that of her mother's. In the beginning of the novel, Antoinette's childhood shows the reader that while she may have had a troubled upbringing, she was in no was "mad". However, after her marriage to Edward Rochester Antoinette is driven insane by a period of long term exposure to her husband's patriarchal and hegemonic influence. As a result of Rochester's oppressive behaviour, Antoinette is stripped of her identity and driven to her eventual breaking point. In Part Three of the novel, the compromised nature of Antoinette's mental state becomes revealed to the reader as Rochester's treatment and abuse has finally driven her to true madness.

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Insanity in Wide Sargasso Sea

Discuss the portrayal of insanity in Wide Sargasso Sea.

Thesis:

Within the context of the novel, Jean Rhys presents insanity or madness as a social phenomenon defined by a defiance of cultural and social norms rather than perhaps a true illness of the mind. Annette and Antoinette are both driven to madness by an inherently patriarchal society and racial tensions as a result of colonial attitudes and values.

Topic Sentence 1:

At the centre of the story lies a patriarchal society that promotes the oppression of women which ultimately served as a contributing factor  to Annette's and Antoinette's madness.

Evidence:

• Women are oppressed through the legal system that is designed to benefit men
• Seen through Antoinette's marriage to Rochester
• “You want her money but you don’t want her. It is in your mind to pretend she is mad. I know it.The doctors say what you tell them to say. The man Richard he say what you want him to say -- glad and willing too, I know. She will be like her mother” - Christophine, page 145

• Annette was forced to marry Mr. Mason because she needs economic protection
• Her marriage is was ultimately drove her to madness as Mr. Mason did not listen to her and left her to dwell in her sorrow and mental breakdown
• “My mother whom you all talk about, what justice did she have? My mother sitting in the rocking chair speaking about dead horses and dead grooms and a black devil kissing her sad mouth.” - Antoinette, page 133
• “They drive her to it. When she lose her son she lose herself for a while and they shut her away. They tell her she is mad, they act like she is mad. Question, question. But no kind word, no friends, and her husband’ he go off, he leave her…” - Christophine

Topic Sentence 2:

Edward Rochester's role as a colonizer drives Antoinette to madness as her culture is deemed subaltern and she is forced to endure the hegemonic values of her husband.

Evidence:

• Rochester is unable to understand Antoinette's culture and therefore resents it and beliefs that it is subaltern
• He grows to resent her "alien" nature and looks
• Antoinette's actions, looks, and beliefs differ from the traditional English expectations and values that Rochester is accustomed to

• Rochester attempts to conform Antoinette to what he considers a more proper way of life
• Starts calling her Bertha

• This resentment leads him to deem here as "mad"
•  It is in your mind to pretend she is mad. I know it. The doctors say what you tell them to say. The man Richard he say what you want him to say -- glad and willing too, I know. She will be like her mother” - Christophine, page 145

Topic Sentence 3:

The racial tension in the West Indies post-emancipation created an environment of hostility which also prompted Annette and Antoinette's identity crisis and eventual mental breakdowns.

Evidence:

• Racial tension caused the fire at Coulibri which resulted in the death of Pierre
• Annette is driven to madness after this

• Antoinette faces an identity crisis as she is descended from slave-owners
• Creole
• Not rich English and not a poor black
• Hybridity

Topic Sentence 4/Conclusion (?):

Characters within the novel are not inherently mad but instead, they are driven to madness through a range of traumatic events and the propagation of hegemonic and patriarchal attitudes.

Evidence:

• “They drive her to it. When she lose her son she lose herself for a while and they shut her away. They tell her she is mad, they act like she is mad. "

• Antoinette goes insane and experiences an eventual mental breakdown after long term exposure to her husband's values
• Stripped of her identity
• Antoinette locked in the attic

• Annette is driven mad after be constantly called mad

• Often, the characters have completely understandable reasons for being upset yet they are deemed "hysterical" as typical in Victorian era 

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Gender in Wide Sargasso Sea Essay

Thesis:

Within the novel, Jean Rhys examines the societal constructs of nineteenth century masculinity and femininity in order to highlight the imbalance of power that exists in the relationship between men and women and the resulting consequences.

Topic Sentence 1:

The character of Edward Rochester is representative of the main aspects of masculinity as seen in his dominant attitude, rational thinking, and the active role he plays in the plot.

Evidence:

•  “These people are very vulnerable. How old was I when I learned to hide how I felt? A very small boy.” – Rochester
• Rochester displays a great deal of arrogance as he asserts his will on others – mainly Antoinette – which portrays his dominance
•  Begins calling Antoinette Bertha, exerting his power over her

Topic Sentence 2:

Antoinette Cosway is constructed as an embodiment of stereotypical femininity; her strong emotions, seemingly irrational thoughts, and submissive nature dictate her role in the story.

Evidence:

•  “Vain, silly creature.” – Rochester describing Antoinette
•  Antoinette is desperate to keep her marriage intact, despite Rochester’s clear lack of love
•  Constantly valued only for her beauty by Rochester
•  “Don’t put anymore scent on my hair. He doesn’t like it.” –Antoinette attempts to alter her identity to conform to Rochester’s standards
•  “This was Antoinette. She spoke hesitatingly as if she expected me to refuse, so it was easy to do so.”

Topic Sentence 3:

Through the marriage of Antoinette and Rochester, Rhys highlights the imbalance of power that exists in the relationship between men and women.

Evidence:

• “But I cannot go. He is my husband after all.”-Antoinette
•  “You are handing over everything the child owns to a perfect stranger.” – Aunt Cora
• Antoinette is stripped of all power in her marriage with Rochester
• She has no protection in her marriage agreement and therefore all her money is given to Rochester
• Rochester locks Antoinette in the attic, showing that he is capable of stripping her of freedom and free will

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Antoinette

In what ways does Jean Rhys characterize Antoinette as an outsider in Part One of the novel and to what effect?
Consider the significance of theme and context.

Alienation and the idea of otherness is one of the main themes of novel Wide Sargasso Sea. This theme can be seen as the driving force behind many of the destructive actions of the main characters within the story. Antoinette’s position as an outsider begins in Part One of the novel and progresses and evolves until she eventually becomes alienated from her family and even herself.

Antoinette’s characterization as an outsider in Part One is mainly composed around the complex racial dynamics and resulting tension that was developing in Jamaica in the 1830’s. Between the whites born in England and the black ex-slaves, Antoinette’s creole background leaves her stranded in an ambiguous middle-ground. Antoinette narrates that “They say when trouble comes close ranks, and the white people did. But we were not in their ranks.” Despite being white, Antoinette and her family are not accepted by the upper-class white Jamaicans and are therefore treated as outsiders. This is as a result of the family’s economic status and Annette’s behaviour and appearance. This line is key in characterizing Antoinette’s struggle to find her place in the racial hierarchy as she identifies the “white people” but does not actually identify as one. Furthermore, Antoinette’s family stems from a line of former slave owners which creates animosity between her family and the recently emancipated slaves on the island. Through this distinction, Rhys is able to portray the true complexity of the racial and class turmoil of this time period.

In addition to this, Antoinette is characterized as an outsider through the portrayal of her relationships with her members of her family and her friend Tia. During Antoinette’s narration she describes the way in which she used to seek comfort in the arms of her mother however, this description is clearly in the past tense emphasizing that this is no longer the case. Regarding her friendship with Tia, Antoinette considers her the closest friend she has however after the fire at Coulibri Tia succumbs to external pressure and betrays their friendship by throwing a stone at her.

Through the establishment of this particular aspect of Antoinette’s character, Rhys emphasizes the depth of a character that had previously been reduced to a simple caricature of a cultural group. In Part One of the novel the author is laying the groundwork for the core theme of the story which will eventually results in the demise of the protagonist.

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Sheikh Ali al-Junaydi

Within the novel The Thief and the Dogs , characters tend to extend beyond themselves into a much greater form of symbolism. Just as certain characters in the novel could be considered representations of particular social classes, the character of Sheikh Ali al-Junaydi also plays a certain role in the story.

The Sheikh acts as the soothing presence for the main character Said Mahran. After Said is rejected by his daughter Sana he seeks the company of the Sheikh who used to serve as the spiritual advisor for his father. The first words spoken by the Sheikh towards Said are “peace and God’s compassion be upon you,” which truly highlights the role of the Sheikh in the novel. The Sheikh is a reoccurring reminder and representation of an alternate path that Said could choose to take. Said is blinded by his self-destructive quest for revenge however, his encounters with the Sheikh convey to the reader another route that could have been possible for him. This alternate route offered by the Sheikh presents a form of redemption born from religion and worship. Regardless, Said is unable to accept the possibility of a different and brighter future and this ultimately results in his tragic downfall.

The Sheikh contributes to the characterization of Said Mahran by exposing a few of his weaknesses and flaws that will eventually bring about his end. Sheikh al-Junaydi is very wise and highly perceptive of Said’s situation. He observes that “[Said’s] burning heart yearns for shade, yet continues forward under the fire of the sun.” This simple observation highlights the destructive and irrational nature of Said’s quest for revenge while exposing his inability to move on as one of his key flaws.

In the novel, the main settings can be divided into open and closed places. They can also be categorized as places that have changed and places that remained the same during Said's time in prison. The Sheikh's house is categorized as both open and a place that has remain unchanged. As with other spaces designated as open, this is an environment where Said does not feel the threat and pressure of society. The Sheikh serves as a safe haven and refuge for Said as he escapes from the world he feels is out to get him. Furthermore, the Sheikh's house offers Said a simple connection to his past since it has not changed over time.  It is here that the readers learn a lot of the backstory surrounding Said and what set him on the path he is currently on within the story.

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Thesis Statements

Through Said's quest for  revenge within the novel , Mahfouz explores the definition of justice and its highly subjective nature through stream of consciousness narrative, thereby raising the question of who can be responsible for determining what is deemed as 'just'?

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The Tragic Hero

Fatal Flaw (Hamartia)

Said's fatal flaw is that he is unable to forgive all those who he feels have wronged him in some way. As with all tragic heroes, Said's fatal flaw is what ultimately leads him to demise as he begins a rapid downward spiral. His quest for revenge is unstoppable as Said actively makes his situation worse. This insatiable thirst for revenge is evident directly from chapter 1 as Said's inner monologue revealed that "The hour was coming when he would confront them, when his rage would explode and burn, when those who had betrayed him would despair unto death, when treachery would pay for what it had done." Had he simply forgiven or at least moved on from Illish and Nabawiyya, his dark fate could have easily been avoided. 

Displays of Excess Pride (Hubris)

Throughout the novel, Said holds firm to the belief that he is always right no matter what. However, as we've discussed in class this perception of reality is most likely highly skewed. Said is always quick to critique others however, he is unable to find fault in himself or his own actions. This becomes evident in his discussion when he asks Rauf, "Hasn't your conscience bothered you even in the dark?" He's quick to judge Rauf without taking into consideration the fact that he's been a thief his entire life and is plotting to murder a man. Furthermore, he only blames others for his downfall without examining his own role in it. 

Reversal of Fortune (Peripeteia)

Within the novel, there are many events that could be considered the turning point for Said. However, I believe that the point of no return occurred when Said commits his first murder. In the eyes of Said, "[His] life was finished, spent to no purpose; he was a hunted man and would be to the end of his days." From this point onward, Said's misfortune increases rapidly as he continues down the dark road of revenge.

Recognition of Fault and Role in Downfall (Anagnorisis)

In this aspect Said actually deviates from the archetypal structure of the tale of the tragic hero. Normally, a tragic hero eventually experiences an epiphany in which they realize that their downfall is ultimately their own fault. However, Said never realizes that everything that has happened to him was due to his never-ending quest for vengeance. He dies still believing that all the unfortunate events in his life have been a result of the actions of others or simply some twisted form of fate.  

Fate (Nemesis)

From a certain perspective it could truly be argued that Said'd fate is quite fair in comparison to the pain he inflicted on others as he ended up murdering two innocent people. Typical tragic heroes are often introduced as highly respectable and noble characters. However, Mahfouz begins the novel by making it clear that Said is certainly not on any pedestal. For this reason its hard to convince the reader that his fate was truly greater than what was deserved. 

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Chapter 11 Passage Analysis

The Sheikh greeted you with that sweet and kindly look of his. And how enchanted you were by his fine white beard! "So this is your son you were telling me about," he said to your father. "There's a lot of intelligence in his eyes. His heart is as spotless as yours. You'll find he'll turn out, with God's will, a truly good man."

Yes, you really adored Sheikh Ali al Junaydi, attracted by the purity in his face and the love in his eyes. And those songs and chants of his had delighted you even before your heart was purified by love.

"Tell this boy what it's his duty to do," your father said to the Sheikh one day.

The Sheikh had gazed down at you and said, "We continue learning from the cradle to the grave, but at least start out, Said, by keeping close account of yourself and making sure that from whatever action you initiate some good comes to someone."

Yes, you certainly followed his counsel, as best you could though you only brought it to complete fulfillment when you took up burglary!

The days passed like dreams. And then your good father disappeared, suddenly gone, in a way that a boy simply could not comprehend, and that seemed to baffle even Sheikh Ali himself. How shocked you were that morning, shaking your head and rubbing your eyes to clear away the sleep, awakened by your mother's screams and tears in the little room at the entrance to the students' hostel! You wept with fear and frustration at your helplessness. That evening however, Rauf Ilwan, at that time a student in Law School, had shown how very capable he was. Yes, he was impressive all right, no matter what the circumstances, and you loved him as you did Sheikh Ali, perhaps even more. It was he who later worked hard to have you--or you and your mother, to be more precise--take over Father's job as custodian for the building. Yes, you took on responsibilities at an early age.

This passage from Chapter 11 of the novel is flashback that Said is having as he remembers events and conversations from his past. In this passage the reader learns detail's about Said's tragic past as he recounts the death of his father and later his mother. From the perspective of both the reader and Said himself this passage is the pinnacle of dramatic irony.  Mahfouz creates a wonderful juxtaposition between Said's past and his present. This conversation with the Sheikh highlights the alternative path that Said could have taken had he not been driven to a life of crime and had not become obsessed with getting revenge. As the Sheikh says "His heart is as spotless as yours. You'll find he'll turn out, with God's will, a truly good man." one begins to wonder how exactly Said has strayed so far from his seemingly bright future. This scene also raises the question of to what extent is Said's current character and predicament due to situational or dispositional factors?

“Making sure that from whatever action you initiate some good comes to someone."

Again we see this contrast of what Said was taught as a boy and the way in which he lives his life in the present. After his release from jail and Sana’s rejection, Said’s actions are of his own self-interest and almost all of his actions result in someone else being harmed.

Furthermore, this passage serves to emphasize the strong bond that Said shared with his beloved mentor Rauf as the reader gains some insight into how the two met and under what circumstances. We see that Said truly looked up to Rauf who symbolized the missing father figure in his life following the death of his father. In the passage Said says “you loved him as you did Sheikh Ali, perhaps even more” which further highlights the deep connection Said felt to Rauf. This gives the reader a deeper sense of understanding as it makes it easier to see why Rauf’s apparent betrayal so deeply affected Said.

This passage is a prime example of Mahfouz’s unique narrative style and the specific way in which he chooses to reveal Said’s story to the reader. Prior to this passage, the reader did not know a great deal about Said’s past or his family. However as seen in this passage, Said’s history and tragic background have actually come to affect his character in a highly negative manner.  We see that following the death of his parents, the bright future that the Sheikh had predicted is exchanged in turn for a much darker future full of thievery and eventually even murder.

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Stream of Consciousness Narrative in The Thief and the Dogs

Stream of consciousness narration is described as “a type of fiction in which the basic emphasis is placed on the exploration of the pre-speech levels of consciousness for the purpose, principally, or revealing the psychic beings of the characters”. This form of narration places emphasis on the thought pattern of an individual and immerses the reader in the innermost thoughts of the character. Through this narration the reader is exposed to the character’s emotions and thoughts in an unfiltered manner, thereby adding depth to the character.

Through an intricate intertwining of realism and stream of consciousness, Naguib Mahfouz establishes and explores his main character Said and his perception of reality in the novel The Thief and the Dogs. Mahfouz employs stream of consciousness narration in order to giving the reader insight into Said’s inner conflicts. To quote one of our readings that I think put it best:  “Access to Said Mahran’s internal experiences enhances the reader’s understanding of his external reality.”

Stream of consciousness narrative also gives the reader a clearer idea of the emotional stability or instability in the case of Said Mahran. In the first chapter of the novel Said ponders that its likely his daughter does not know anything about him however, when faced with her eventual rejection his reasoning and logic become irrational as he feels that Sana rejected and betrayed him. This reaction seen within Said’s thoughts hints at how he may react to similar situations later in the novel. When Said ventures to find his old friend and mentor Raush and discovers that his socio-economic status has been elevated, he once again jumps to hasty conclusions. In this interaction between mentor and student, Said’s previous feelings of paranoia and distrust resurface as he feels that Rauf has also betrayed him. Mahfouz’s style of an alternating narrative voice prompts the reader to establish a closer connection with Said and evokes a deeper sense of sympathy than what may have been achieved through a simple third or first person narration. However as the novel progresses, this sympathetic connection is tested as Said’s thoughts become irrational and his actions become morally unacceptable to the reader.

While this narrative technique does give the novel a unique flair, it also comes with some limitations. The reader’s perception of characters and events can become highly skewed due to the biased portrayal in Said’s thoughts. The reader is never given the opportunity to experience the story from another character’s perspective and therefore their perception of reality within the novel is tainted by Said’s obvious and strong bias. As seen in the novel, it can be difficult to attain an unbiased perspective of certain characters such as Nabawiyya whom Said describes as “that woman who sprang from filth, from vermin, from treachery and infidelity”.

Both Mahfouz and Achebe utilize a distinct form of storytelling in their novels. Mahfouz uses stream of consciousness narration which presents the reader with a highly subjective perception of reality within the novel. While there is some use of an unbiased third person narrative voice, the reader is generally left to establish events and characters through the eyes of Said Mahran. On the other hand Achebe employs third person narration throughout his novel which creates a different effect for the reader. This allows Achebe to present an unbiased view of the story and furthermore allows the reader to make their own moral judgement instead of relying on that of the narrator or a specific character.  Achebe makes it very clear that Okonkwo is a flawed character through the unbiased narrative form. However, the narrative technique used by Mahfouz does not necessarily highlight the flaws of Said but instead leaves the reader to establish this for themselves.

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Texts in Translation

 “So many people consider their work a daily punishment. Whereas I love my work as a translator. Translation is a journey over a sea from one shore to the other. Sometimes I think of myself as a smuggler: I cross the frontier of language with my booty of words, ideas, images, and metaphors.”    -Amara Lakhous

As part of the International Baccalaureate, our courses constantly provide opportunities to assume a perspective that differs from our own. In Language and Literature this opportunity arises in the form of studying one text in translation.  As demonstrated in the above quote by translator Amara Lakhous, the practice of translation is truly an art. A translator is tasked with transforming an entire text while simultaneously remaining true to the author and their style and intentions. However, this can sometimes be quite difficult as a translator always brings their own unique personal style when approaching a text. When Feng Tang published his translation of poems by Rabindranath Tagore he was faced with heavy criticism for some his word choices. Some felt that his translation had disgraced the original poet while Tang himself felt that he was merely suggesting a different reality regarding the poems. However, despite the difficulties posed, translated literature is highly valuable in our world today. Translated literature from Arabic about an Arab city can provide a wider audience with a particular insight that would most likely prove difficult to capture in English. Many stories are often left untold due to the fact they are originally told in only one language. However, by translating literary texts these stories may travel the world and reach a more global audience.

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Practice Paper 1

              Text 1 is a newspaper article titled "Squatters Take On Developers" by Benjamin Shors, published on October 15, 2007.  This text type may be identified through the informative nature of the article. In contrast, Text 2 is an advertisement for a summer cruise published in 1922 for "The Great White Fleet". The persuasive techniques evident within this text are indicative of a typical advertisement. While both texts address the main theme of expansion, they have contrasting purposes and utilize stylistic and structural features in an opposing manner.

             Both texts address audiences of a similar socio-economic status whom may be interested in vacationing in the Caribbean. Text 2 is advertising "Reduced rates for summer cruises" which insinuates that the intended audience is not the truly wealthy nor the lower class but instead the upper middle class. Furthermore, the text emphasizes that the cruises "cost you no more than your annual vacation to seashore or mountains".  Likewise, Text 1 is also addressing an upper middle class audience that possesses an excess of money that is necessary in order to allow them to consider purchasing a home in Panama.  However, taking into consideration the historical context of each text it is clear that the audiences would have different views on the expansion of the tourism industry. While the audience of Text 1 would be able to sympathize with the plight of the native Panama residents, the audience of Text 2 is less likely to be considerate of the ramifications of expansion into the Caribbean. This distinction is due to the time period in which each text was produced and the social considerations that have developed since the publishing of Text 2 in 1922.

            Text 1 and Text 2 have completely different purposes in terms of what they aim to achieve. Text 1 aims to evoke sympathy and reveal a corporate social injustice that is occurring in Panama as a consequence of expansion. This can be deduced by examining the use of the testimonial of Nicasio Jimenez that serves as the introduction to the article and is continually addressed throughout. In contrast, Text 2 is attempting to persuade its target audience to go on a summer cruise thereby contributing to the very industry that served as the cause for the plight highlighted in Text 1. This idea of persuasion stems from the advertisement's use of various persuasive devices and techniques.

            These texts are alike in that they both address the main overarching theme of expansion. However, the texts approach the topic from contrasting perspectives. Text 1 addresses the theme of expansion by informing the audience of the negative consequences it has had to the poor natives of Panama. The author is direct in his approach to the matter as he states  that "The size of the new developments threaten to displace hundreds of low-income island residents", thereby placing emphasis on the negative ramifications of the expansion of the tourism industry into Panama. On the other hand, Text 2 views the idea of expansion into the Caribbean as an exciting opportunity that should be utilized, holding little to no concern about the consequences this may have for the natives. The advertisement lists "Jamaica, Cuba, Panama Canal, Central America, Columbian Ports" as an assortment of opportunities that the audience may visit by booking a cruise with The Great White Fleet.

            Despite a similar theme, the content of Text 1 and Text 2 differs greatly. Text 2 discusses details about the cruises such as the length and the price. It goes on to then inform the audience of why they should go on a cruise by first stating the weather in the different ports and then highlighting certain aspects of the ships such as "Extra large staterooms" and "A cuisine noteworthy for its excellence". At the bottom of the advertisement there is an image of men and women on one of the cruise boats. In contrast, Text 1 begins by telling the story of a 61 year old retired banana pruner and the threat that he facing from foreign investors as "Jimenez's family faces eviction from a Naples developer who claims he bought the property from a third party". The article then goes further by addressing the larger conflict that has arisen due to this clash between native resident and foreign developers.

            Both texts follow the common structure and conventions of their particular text type. Text 1 uses a larger heading "Squatters Take On Developers" as is commonly seen in newspaper articles. It also features nine short paragraphs that are generally concise in order to maintain the attention of the reader. Similarly, Text 2 follows the traditional conventions of an advertisement by featuring a combination of images, text, and headings that are used in order to persuade the audience and to advertise a product.

            However, Text 1 and Text 2 utilize different stylistic and structural features in order to achieve their purpose. Text 1 uses a testimonial in order to give the larger conflict of expansion a more personal feel that the reader may relate to. Furthermore, there is strong use of ethos as the author draws on the reader's sense of ethics in order to convince them that this is a morally and ethically unjust situation. The quote "Developers and speculators will use any means necessary to get the land from the people" insinuates that developers may be going outside of the law to deal with this issue thereby creating a sense of ethical wrongness and playing off the reader's personal morals. Moreover, Text 1 uses descriptive imagery in order to evoke sympathy from the reader by creating a bond between the audience and Nicasio Jimenez. This is seen directly in the introduction as the author describes how Jimenez "built two listing shacks with mangrove beams, a roof of scavenged tin, and rough floor planks that allowed Caribbean breezes and tsetse flies to flit through the cracks". In contrast, Text 2 utilizes a combination of images and persuasive techniques in order to achieve its aim. The image is placed at the bottom of the advertisement in order to allow the reader to visualize themselves as the people in the image. Also, the people in the image are well dressed which creates an association between The Great White Fleet and this idea of wealth and social class. Moreover, "Reduced rates for summer cruises" is in a large bold font of all capital letters in order to catch the attention of the reader and create appeal for the product being sold.

            In conclusion, both Text 1 and Text 2 address the theme of expansion however, Text 2 is promoting the tourism industry that seems to be the cause for the issues raised by Text 1. The texts have contrasting purposes and content but address a somewhat similar audience. Overall, these two texts exemplify a cause and effect relationship that is seen over a period of many decades as Text 1 highlights the negative consequences of the very industry  being promoted in Text 1. 

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Practice Paper 1 Introduction

       Text 1 is a newspaper article titled "Squatters Take On Developers" by Benjamin Shors, published on October 15, 2007.  This text type may be identified through the informative nature of the article. In contrast, Text 2 is an advertisement for a summer cruise published in 1922 for "The Great White Fleet". The persuasive techniques evident within this text are indicative of a typical advertisement. While both texts address the main theme of expansion, they have contrasting purposes and utilize stylistic and structural features in an opposing manner.

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Propaganda

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Deception is just as bad as telling an outright lie

"A lie that is a half-truth is the darkest of all lies." 

-Alfred Tennyson

While there is certainly a distinction between lying and deception, they both produce the same results and are therefore equally bad. Deception involves the manipulation and distortion of that which is known to be true in order to convey the desired message. However, lying is based completely on false information that is then presented as the absolute truth. Looking at the consequences of both, it can be seen that the results are generally the same. Lying and deception result in the public being deceived and left unaware of the truth of the matter.

In class we watched the documentary Control Room, which investigated the media coverage of the 2003 Iraq war. Within the documentary, there was a distinct juxtaposition between the coverage provided by Arab news channel Al Jazeera and the coverage provided by many of the American news organizations concerning the war. While Al Jazeera mainly presented an unbiased coverage of the events, many American news channels did not. Al Jazeera made it clear that the Iraq War came at a price that was being paid with human lives, either soldiers or civilians. In contrast, both America and the UK tended to omit the idea of casualties and instead focused on portraying themselves as the heroes and saviours of the Iraqi people. In order to convey this message, these organizations deceived their audiences as they did not present the full story or all of the necessary facts. In this way, deception is equally as bad as telling a lie as both methods convey a biased and constructed message to the designated audience.

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Where does the truth lie?

"New Yorkers should not be alarmed about contracting the disease"

Craig Spencer (right)  pictured with his fiancee Morgan Dixon (left)

There's been a development in the case of Dr. Craig Spencer of Columbia University, who has tested positive for the Ebola virus in New York after volunteering as a part of Doctors Without Borders in Guinea. It's been revealed that Spencer visited a few locations around the city including the High Line park, a Greenwich Village restaurant in lower Manhattan, and a Brooklyn bowling alley. However, Mayor Bill de Blasio reassured the public that Spencer's trip around the city should not be a concern.

"There is no reason for New Yorkers to be alarmed," the mayor said at a news conference alongside Gov. Andrew Cuomo and medical officials. "We've been preparing for months for the threat of Ebola with clear and strong protocols that were scrupulously followed in this instance." Ebola is only spread through bodily fluids and not as easy to transmit as one might think. Heat kills it, it doesn't survive being dried out, and it doesn't travel through the air. Also, it doesn't appear to stick to surfaces very well. 

Furthermore, Ebola patients cannot infect others before they themselves show symptoms of the virus. Spencer only reported having symptoms the day after his city excursion and therefore the risk factor for the New York public is almost non-existent. Seeing as Ebola may not be spread through casual contact, New Yorkers may rest assured that they are not at risk of contracting the Ebola virus. The city health commissioner, Mary Travis Bassett, said that there was no danger to anyone in public places or on the transit system. He began feeling tired on Tuesday, but his first actual symptoms - a fever - didn't appear until Thursday between 10 and 11 a.m. ET, she said. 

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/10/29/new-york-city-doctor-with-ebola-reportedly-lied-about-his-movements-in-city.html

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Moons of Jupiter Practice IOC

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Boys and Girls Practice IOC

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This is Water

In his essay This is Water,  David Foster Wallace suggests that true freedom acquired through education is the ability to be adjusted, conscious, and sympathetic. He goes on to develop this thesis by describing the dreary routines that many university graduates will soon become familiar with. He brings up a significant idea which is that during this routine of monotony we make the assumption the world is simply revolving around us as individuals. In our day to day lives we often fail to acknowledge the fact that every person we come in contact with is experiencing the world in a much different way than we are and it can be hard to comprehend and take into consideration that they have a life beyond what we see. We only come into contact with a few seconds or minutes of their life and in this minuscule amount of time we make full assumptions about their entire existence. Wallace suggests that this way of viewing the world is simply our default setting and as humans we often fall prey to the easy route it offers us. However, we have the option to deviate from this default setting and instead be truly conscious of our surroundings and therefore be more empathetic.

In his speech Wallace also brings up an interesting example of a women whom we silently throw insults at in a grocery store line but is actually someone who has helped us or may help us in the future. While Wallace notes that this scenario is improbable he also states that it is not entirely impossible, reminding us that we must be able to view the world and our surroundings as a whole instead of simply viewing the world from our narrow one-minded perspective.

Our inquiry question for this unit is "How can literature develop empathy and emotional intelligence?". The theory presented by Wallace relates to this question in a variety of ways. Focusing on one aspect of the question, This is Water brings up many ways in which we may become more empathetic in our everyday lives. Literature equips us with the skill of being able to relate and empathize with the experiences of others. However, this skill is wasted unless we are also able to take the extra step following Wallace's advise and turn off our default setting. Empathy is an essential tool in our lives and therefore it's important to develop our ability to empathize with other people who may be experiencing the world completely separate from our own experiences. In conclusion, while literature may help us develop our empathy in the end it comes down to the fact that we must make the conscious decision to be considerate of the lives and experiences of others beyond what we are able to observe.

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Munro Literature Reflection

What is the purpose and benefit of the study of literature?

In my opinion, we study literature because it has implications in our everyday life whether we're aware of it or not. Literature allows us to experience the world from a variety of viewpoints other than our own which can allow us to become more open towards the world around us. Literature can also improve our communication skills and greatly enhance our vocabulary, enabling us to write in a more sophisticated manner.

What is women’s literature and what is the value in studying it?

Women's literature is a sub-category of literature written by female authors that is focused solely on women and their experiences. Women's literature is about giving a voice to a group of people who once faced great oppression and where therefore unable to communicate their stories. This genre tends to expose deeply rooted societal issues involving women through personal stories. It's important to study this genre as it helps us understand the oppression that many women felt and still do feel in today's society.

Although she does not identify as a feminist writer, how has Munro’s work contributed to gender equality?

While Munro may not identify as a feminist writer, her work has contributed to gender equality as it often focuses on female protagonists and the struggles they face in society. In an interview, Munro discusses how she doesn't actually mind doing housework however, she disagrees with the fact that it was expected of her to stay at home and clean the house. This defiance of gender roles and unfair societal expectations often comes up in Munro's writing therefore contributing to the idea that women should not be confined to simple housework.

What do you enjoy most about the content of Munro’s work and what impact has it had on you?

While reading the short stories, I found Munro's plot style to be quite intriguing and effective. I thought it was  interesting how her plots are far from linear as this definitely made the stories more interesting to read. For example, the short story Passion begins with the character visiting a small town and commenting on how its changed. From this point in the story we go back to the beginning in order to discover how it is that this character came to be in this place. Another aspect of her style that I particularly enjoyed was that Munro didn't feel the need to make everything a happy ending. Many authors often feel like they must end a story with a happily ever after however, in Runaway we are left with the foreshadowing that Clarke would end up killing Carla. The way in which Munro embraces the true nature of the world enhances her writing and gives it some sense of realism.

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Summer Blog Post #2

During my stay in Paris this summer we decided to meet up with a friend of my brother who lived in the city. My brother had met her in America during one of her stays in the country as a foreign exchange student. So, after setting up as meeting place and time we set off on the metro to meet Alex.  Once we spotted her we went through quick introductions and then began our stroll along the Champs-Élysées. After doing some window shopping we decided that a Starbucks break was exactly what we needed to power through the rest of the day. Now this is where it gets a bit interesting. My family began placing their drink orders in English of course which was fine as the barista seemed to be quite fluent. When it came time for Alex to place her order she spoke in French to the barista. However, the barista replied and kept speaking to her in English. After repeatedly attempting to speak French to the barista and having him reply in English, Alex finally asked "Do you not speak French?". The barista replied that yes he did speak French and then it dawned on him that Alex was actually a native French speaker, not just some tourist wannabe.

Now this is a prime example of how we code switch according to our appraisal of a situation. The barista realized that we most likely did not speak French and therefore he switched to the common language of English in order to communicate with us in a more efficient manner. This ability to code switch is highly important in today's society. We often find ourselves having to alter our speech in accordance with who we're conversing with. However, as seen in this case we can sometimes make mistakes when making assumptions about people. Overall, I found it interesting how the barista was able to make assumptions in order to be more accommodating in this scenario.  

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