The Importance of Being Earnest Commentary

Natalie Mironov
Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB, Hr 4
20 May 2009

"The Importance of Being Earnest"

"MISS PRISM: Lady Bracknell, I admit with shame that

I do not know. I only wish I did. The plain facts of the

case are these. On the morning of the day you mention,

a day that is forever branded on my memory, I pre-

pared as usual to take the baby out in its perambulator.

I had also with me a somewhat old but capacious hand-

bag in which I had intended to place the manuscript of

a work of fiction that I had written during my few

unoccupied hours. In a moment of mental abstraction,

for which I never can forgive myself, I deposited the

manuscript in the bassinette, and placed the baby in

the hand-bag." (Wilde 185)

This section of "The Importance of Being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde is about when Miss Prism confuses a baby with her manuscript. She mistakenly puts the baby in her handbag instead of the manuscript. The author's purpose in this passage is to be humorous and entertaining. This is achieved through the use of imagery, connotation, and farce.

Imagery is used to describe the surroundings and the typical actions that were to take place. Miss Prism says she "prepared as usual to take the baby out in its perambulator" (Wilde 185). This is funny because of the irony. The reader knows what really happened and how Miss Prism actually put the baby in an "old but capacious handbag" (Wilde 185). This presents another image of the handbag. It is humorous because of how outrageous a picture it provides of a baby in a large, extravagant handbag.

Similarly, connotation is used to provide entertainment. Miss Prism calls that day one "that is forever branded on my memory" (Wilde 185). The word branded implies that it is unforgettable, which is humorous because she forgot about the baby, confusing it with a manuscript and then leaving it in ia handbag at the train station. The word shame, when Miss Prism said, "I admit with shame" (Wilde 185), has strong connotation symbolizing embarassment and remorse which is funny because it seems like she made no effort to fix her mistake after it happened.

Finally, Wilde uses farce as a final way to ensure the humor in this passage. Miss Prism said, "In a moment of mental abstraction, for which I never can forgive myself, I deposited the manuscript in the bassinette, and placed the baby in the hand-bag" (Wilde 185). This mistaken identity is so improbable that it is comical and extremely entertaining.

In these ways Wilde makes this section humorous and enjoyable for the reader. This was accomplished through his use of imagery, connotation, and farce.

Atsumori Commentary

Natalie Mironov
Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB, Hr 4
5 May 2009

Twice, three times he strikes; then, still saddled,
In close fight they twine; roll headlong together
Among the surf of the shore.
So Atsumori ffell and was slain, but now the wheel of Fate
Has turned and brought him back.
"There is my enemy," he cries, and would strike,
But the other is grown gentle
And calling on Buddha's name
Has obtained salvation for his foe;
So that they shall be reborn together
On one lotus seat
"No, Rensei is not my enemy.
Pray for me again, oh pray for me again."
(Motokiyo 228-240)

This passage is from the play "Atsumori" by Seami Motokiyo. It is about how the priest, Rensei, killed Atsumori, "but now the wheel of Fate/ Has turned and brought him back" (Motokiyo 231-232). Through this the author is trying to portray the themes of peace and forgiveness. Motokiyo achieves this through the use of imagery, dialogue, and allusion.

The use of imagery of Rensei murdering Atsumori and the bad deeds that were committed strengthens the ideals of peace and forgiveness. "Twice, three times he strikes; then, still sddled/In close fight they twine; roll headlong together/ Among the surf of the shore./ So Atsumori fell and was slain" (Motokiyo 228-231). This is showing the passion and hatred put into the fight and is used to demonstrate how if Atsumori is able to forgive Rensei for something as terrible as killing him, people should be able to forgive each other for lesser things.

Dialogue is used to demonstrate the ability to look past the mistakes of another person and to make peace with one another. At first Atsumori declares, "There is my enemy" (Motokiyo 233) when he sees Rensei, but later says, "No, Rensei is not my enemy" (Motokiyo 239). This shows how he was able to forgive and forget after he saw that Rensei had changed and "grown gentle" (Motokiyo 234). This promotes a tranquil atmosphere and peace between people.

Lastly, allusion to Buddhism and Buddhist ideals is very prominent in this passage. It says, "But the other is grown gentle/ And calling on Buddha's name/ Has obtained salvation for his foe" (Motokiyo 234-236). This is alluding to Buddha and nirvana, because by obtaining salvation Rensei is being forgiven for his sins and by not being ignorant and realizing his ways were wrong he is one step closer to achieving nirvana. In the play it also says, "So that they shall be reborn together/ On one lotus seat" (Motokiyo 237-238). This quote refers to the cycle of being reborn, known as samsara. Through samsara one is supposed to be peaceful and do good deeds until they achieve nirvana. The image of being reborn on a lotus is especially strong because the lotus is sacred to Buddhists, so putting it together with samsara is a very calm, beautiful thing. Also, to achieve nirvana one must be forgiving and focus on the present rather than dwell on events of the past and in that way is achieving the author's purpose.


This passage concludes the story and in that way is also the author's purpose for the play as a whole. The themes and literary devices used show a representation of the story because both sides of the issue are present in the passage. Motokiyo's use of imagery, dialogue, and allusion show the importance of peace and forgiveness and how important it is that they are achieved.

As You Like It LRJ #5

Natalie Mironov

Ms. Peifer

English 10 IB, Hr 4

16 March 2009

As You Like It: Act 5

Act Five is when Orlando's main goals of becoming a gentleman and gaining the love of Rosalind are fully achieved. Orlando tells Ganymede, "I can live no longer by thinking" (5.2.53), which means he is no longer able to just pretend Ganymede is Rosalind, he needs Rosalind herself. In response to this Ganymede tells Orlando, "If you do love Rosalind so near the heart as your gesture cries it out, when your brother marries Aliena shall you marry her" (5.2.65-68). This shows that Rosalind finally trusts that Orlando's love is true. As Rosalind she later tells him, "I'll have no husband, if you be not he" (5.4.127), showing that Orlando has finally won over his true love and is able to live happily with her. Before they are married Orlando even says, "That would I, had I kingdoms to give with her" (5.4.10). This means that he would marry her no matter what it took and shows that he is not using her, he truly loves her, and in this way is a gentleman.

Orlando's relationship with Oliver has become strong and he even discusses his upcoming marriage to Aliena with Orlando. Orlando says, "Is 't possible that on so little acquaintance you should like her? That but seeing, you should lover her? And loving, woo? And wooing, she should grant? And will you persever to enjoy her?" (5.2.1-4). This seems a little hypocritcal after Orlando has been wooing Rosalind after falling in love with her immediately, but shows that the bond between the brothers has become strong because they can talk in this way.

As You Like It LRJ #4

Natalie Mironov
Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB, Hr 4
16 March 2009

As You Like It: Act 4

Orlando's main objective in this act is to learn how to win over Rosalind. He asks Ganymede questions, inquiring, "How if the kiss be denied?" (4.1.83), and "Who could be out, being before his beloved mistress?" (4.1.86-87), showing he wants to learn how to better act around her. When he has to leave to eat dinner with the duke he promises to be back by two and Ganymede says, "If you break one jot of your promise or come one minute behind your hour, I will think you the most pathetical break-promise, and the most hollow lover, and the most unworthy of her you call Rosalind that may be chosen out of the gross band of the unfaithful" (4.1.201-206). This shows how important this promise is to Ganymede so Orlando is forced to make a tough decision when he encounters his brother in the forest about to be attacked by a lioness. He debated walking away so that he could keep his promise to Ganymede because Oliver says, "Twice did he turn his back and purposed so, but kindness, nobler ever than revenge, and nature, stronger than his just occasion, made him give battle to the lioness" (4.3.135-137). These qualities in Orlando show how he truly is a gentleman, even without the gentleman's education he desires. It shows his kindness, even to someone who had been as cruel to him as Oliver.

Along with this display of goodness to Oliver, Ganymede asks Orlando questions of marriage, to which Orlando replies that he would love Rosalind "forever and a day" (4.1.152). He also tells Ganymede, "I take some joy to say you are because I would be talking to her" (4.1.94-95), meaning he enjoys pretending Ganymede is Rosalind because it would mean he was able to talk to her everyday. These statements tell of Orlando's true character as devoted and loving, and overall, a gentleman.

Through this all Orlando and Oliver's relationship has changed from one of utter loathing to caring brothers once more. Oliver says that, "In brief, he led me to the gentle duke, who gave me fresh array and entertainment, committing me unto my brother's love" (4.3.151-153). This change proves Orlando to be honorable and forgiving as well.

As You Like It LRJ #3

Natalie Mironov
Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB, Hr 4
15 March 2009

As You Like It: Act 3

By this part of the play, Orlando has become a hopeless romantic, so caught up in love that it is all he can focus on. He uses his setting in the forest to help him express his love for Rosalind. He says, "O Rosalind, these trees shall be my books, and in their barks my thoughts I'll character, that every eye which in this forest looks shall see thy virtue witnessed everywhere" (3.2.5-8). In this way he uses the forest around him to show everyone that passes through, not just Rosalind, how much she means to him.

Although Orlando's overall goal is still to become a gentleman, his current goal has become wooing Rosalind and winning her love. He tells himself he is going to "carve on every tree the fair, the chase, and unexpressive she" (3.2.9-10), meaning he is going to tell everyone of her beauty, her virtue, and how hard it is to express all that she is. Jaques even tells Orlando that "the worst fault you have is to be in love" (3.2.286), to which Orlando replies, "'Tis a fault I will not change for your best virtue" (3.2.287-288). This shows how even though his love is consuming his every action, he would not give it up because it is so meaninful. Although unknowingly, Orlando does begin to achieve this goal when Rosalind, as Ganymede, tells him to "call me Rosalind and come every day to my cote and woo me" (3.2.434-435), but he doesn't know that it's her so he doesn't get the satisfaction from it that he would if he knew it was Rosalind.

Orlando develops a bond with Ganymede, who is really Rosalind, of pretend lovers because Ganymede said to Orlando, "You must call me Rosalind" (3.2.442-443) so that Ganymede can "wash your liver as clean as a sound sheep's heart, that there shall not be one spot of love in 't" (3.2.429-431). In this way Rosalind can test Orlando to see how true his love really is. At this time, Orlando and Jaques have gone from being friendly acquaintances - from when Duke Senior and Jaques aided Orlando and Adam - to despising each other. Jaques says, "Let's meet as little as we can" (3.2.262), and Orlando agrees, saying, "I do desire we be better strangers"' (3.2.263). This shows their distaste for each other due to their differing opinions about Orlando's poems to Rosalind.

As You Like It LRJ #2

Natalie Mironov

Ms. Peifer

English 10 IB, Hr 4

12 March 2009

As You Like It: Act 2

In Act Two, Orlando is a very devoted friend. He is now in the forrest with Adam and is committed to Adam's well being through the entire act. The significance of them being in the forest is that it shows Adam's commitment to take care of Orlando as well. This commitment and the fact that Adam helped Orlando escape from Oliver's plot to kill him strengthened the bond between them and Orlando tells Adam that they will "go along together, and ere we have thy youthful wages spent, we'll light upon some settled low content" (2.3.67-69). Because of this Orlando wants to repay Adam and help him as best he can and this includes when Adam is starving. His goal becomes making sure that Adam survives and this is evident because he says, "If this uncouth forest yield anything savage, I will either be food for it or bring it for food to thee" (2.6.6-7). This quote shows how deep their connection truly is that Orlando is willing to risk his life to save Adam's. Orlando ends up securing food for himself and Adam by threatening Duke Senior and Jacques, who he met in the forest. He tells them, "He dies that touches any of this fruit till I and my affairs are answered" (2.7.103-104). Although this is rude and ungentlemanly, Orlando thought it was necessary to help Adam and when he found out it wasn't he immediately apologized, saying, "Pardon me, I pray you. I thought that all things had been savage here, and therefore put on the countenance of stern commandment" (2.7.111-114).

This display of friendship helps Orlando towards his overall goal of becoming a gentleman. Being a gentleman includes doing honorable things and taking care of one's friends. Orlando achieves this goal and demonstrates that he is a gentleman when he says, "I will bear thee to some shelter, and thou shalt not die for lack of a dinner if there live anything in this desert" (2.6.15-17). This is honorable because it shows he is going to do everything he can to save his friend's life.

Aside from Adam, who Orlando has shown he has a close bond with, he has some relationships that aren't as good. His relationship with his brother Oliver is not as good. He tells the reader that Oliver is "of a diverted blood and bloody brother" (2.3.38), meaning Oliver is violent and they don't even consider each other to be brothers.

As You Like It LRJ #1

Natalie Mironov

Ms. Peifer


English 10 IB, Hr 4


9 March 2009

As You Like It: Act 1

Orlando is the son of Sir Rowland du Bois and the brother of Oliver. In Act One he is living at home on his father's estate which Oliver inherited following Sir Rowland's death. Orlando doesn't enjoy it, saying Oliver "keeps me rustically at home, or, to speak more properly, stays me here at home unkept" (1.1.6-8). This is saying that Oliver keeps him at home in the country, instead of sending him somewhere to be educated, and doesn't properly care for him. Orlando states that "his horses are bred better, for, besides that they are fair with their feeding, they are taught their manage and, to that end, riders dearly hired" (1.1.10-13). In this way he shows how poorly Oliver takes care of him. This treatmant makes Orlando especially desire the gentleman's education his father wanted him to receive and he sets his sights on getting it. To get what he wants, Orlando demands that Oliver "allow me such exercises as may become a gentleman, or give me the poor allotery my father left me by testament" (1.1.70-73). This is the passion for education and importance Orlando places in it. It shows that he wants it badly enough that he would do anything for it or settle for something less, as long as it shows the promise of being able to become educated.

In this act Orlando also shows off his intelligence and bravery because, while Charles is constantly saying that he's going to win, Orlando responds telling him "you mean to mock me after, you should not have mocked me before" (1.2.202-203). This shows that he knows a person can't know the outcome of something before it has happened and must not be to full of themself. When talking about Charles, he also states that, "He is the general challenger, I come but in as others do, to try with him the strength of my youth" (1.2.163-165). This shows that although Orlando doesn't want to be viewed as a coward, he still wouldn't challenge Charles of his own accord because he knows it would be a foolish thing to do.

Although Orlando and Oliver do not like each other or get a long, and Celia mentions that Duke Frederick doesn't care for him, Orlando appears to have a good relationship with all other characters in the play. Celia says, "By this kind of chase I should hate him, for my father hated his father dearly. Yet I hate not Orlando: (1.3.30-33). This shows that he must be a charismatic, likeable person. The reader also sees his charisma in the relationship between him and Rosalind. After just meeting they both have strong feelings for one another and Orlando says, "What passion hangs these weights upon my tongue? I cannot speak to her, yet she urged conference" (1.1.258-259). This shows how lovestruck Orlando is and how strong the bond is between him and Rosalind.

Macbeth LRJ #6

Natalie Mironov
Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB, Hr 4
3 March 2009

In "Macbeth," Shakespeare asks the reader many important questions involving destiny and ambition. The play makes the reader wonder whether people are able to change and what will happen if it is attempted. It also brings up the question of when is it acceptable to act upon ones desires? Shakespeare asks the reader this by making them consider Macbeth's thoughts and actions. After hearing of the prophecy he says, "The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step on which I must fall down, or else o'er leap, for in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires: let not light see my black and deep desires" (1.4.48-51). This brings up the question of whether Macbeth should act on this and try to fulfill the prophecy or whether that is interfering too much with destiny. When Lady Macbeth hears of what the witches sais she tells Macbeth, "You shalt be what though art promised" (1.5.16-17), but she even questions whether doing this will get them what they want because she immediately says, "Yet do I fear nature: it is too full o' th' milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way" (1.5.17-19). This shows her questioning human interference in ways such as this and makes the reader question if one should act upon blind ambition, especially without having much knowledge of the topic.

Shakespeare goes on to answer these questions by showing the reader what happens to Macbeth. Near the end of the play they hear Macbeth say, "My way of life is fallen into the sere, the yellow leaf: and that which should accompany old age. As honor, love, obedience, troops of friends, I must not look to have: but in their stead, curses not loud but deep, mouth-honor, breath, which the poor heart fain deny, and dare not" (5.3.110-116). This is saying that even with all Macbeth's ambition and all he did to try to fulfill the prophecy and better his life, he ended up without love and friends, things which nobody wants to be without in life. He continually repeats how miserable he is saying thing such as, "Out, out brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury signifying nothing" (5.5.23-28), and "I 'gin to be aweary of the sun, and wish th' estate o' th' world were now undone" (5.5.49-50). This is showing how he never should have tried to change nature and destiny and tells the reader that one should just live their life and let things play out as they should instead of constantly trying to make them happen a certain way.

Macbeth LRJ #5

Natalie Mironov
Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB, Hr 4
3 March 2009

Macbeth: Act 5

The themes in the final act of "Macbeth" are much the same as those of other acts being about death, guilt, pride, and power. Since becoming king Macbeth has become cruel and arrogant and has abused the power he has. He murdered innocent people as well as inflicting undeserved punishment just to show his greatness. An example of this is when the messenger came to warn him of the moving forest and he says, "If thou speak'st false, upon the next ree shall thou hang alive" (5.5.44-45). This is showing that Macbeth thinks down upon others and even though this messenger just wants to help him out it would be a good chance for him to show off his power so others do not think to mess with him. Along with this, Macbeth is also a very proud man because even with everything he has gone through he never backs down. He says, "I will not yield to kiss the ground before young Malcolm's feet" (5.8.32-33). Pride is also prevalant among others charactersm, for example Siward. When he thinks Macduff has died while fighting Macbeth he states, "Had I as many sons as I have hairs, I would not wish them to a fairer death" (5.8.56-57). This means that he thinks bringing down such an awful tyrant is such an honorable deed that dying in the act of it is a very honorable and respectable death.

Another thing that continues into act five is the image of blood. Blood continues to represent death and guilt. Lady Macbeth sepecially uses the image of blood to show her feelings about the murders she took part in. She says, "The Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now? What, will these hands ne'er be clean? No more o' that, my lore, no more o' that" (5.1.44-46). This shows her feelings on the death of Macduff's wife because she was innocent and wasn't part of any of the plots to take the crown away from Macbeth. Lady Macbeth feels these murders are getting out of hand now that wives and children, like herself, are being killed. Another instance where she mentions blood to symbolize how guilty she feels is when she says, "Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand" (5.1.53-55). By this, Lady Macbeth is saying how awful these murders are and there is nothing in the world that can make better these awful acts.

Macbeth LRJ #4

Natalie Mironov
Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB, Hr 4
3 March 2009

Macbeth: Act 4

The purpose of the scene with Lady Macduff in it is to give the characters depth and help the reader feel like they know Lady Macduff and her children. The reader is able to feel her pain when she says, "Wisdom? To leave his wife, to leave his babes, his mansion and his titles in a place from whence himself does fly? He loves us not" (4.2.8-10). The reader also is able to see the strong bond between mother and son because they are able to joke about Macduff being gone. She tells him that she can "buy me twenty at any market" (4.2.47-48). Through these conversations the reader feels a connection to the characters which makes them feel Macduff's pain when they are murdered.

By Macduff's actions during this time, the reader learns of his selfish fear. Malcolm even asks him "why in that rawness left you wife and child, those precious motives, those strong knots of love, without leave-taking?" (4.3.33-35). This is showing how strong his fear for himself and his life must have been that he fled so fast he left his wife and kids behind with such a terrible murderer running the country. When he left he decided he would find Malcolm and convince him to come back and claim his title of king. Doing this and leaving his family behind shows how Macduff valued his country over his family. Malcolm definitely doesn't approve of this priority because Macduff says, "I would not be the villain that thou think'st for the whole space that's in the tyrant's grasp, and the rich East to boot" (4.3.44-46). This shows how strongly Malcolm thinks what Macduff did is wrong because Macduff said even if he were offered all of Macbeth's kingdom and the riches in the East, he still wouldn't be the villain that Malcolm considers him to be.

Macbeth has changed because at the beginning of the play he was a gentle man with a big conscience who felt guilty about doing any evil deeds. In act four of the play all those characteristics are gone and he has become greedy and evil. He now wants everything his way and will do whatever it takes to get it. He tells the witches, "Of nature's germens tumble all together even till destruction sicken, answer me to what I ask you" (4.1.62-64). He is basically telling the witches that he doesn't care what they have to go through to do it, they must tell him everything he wants to know. He then threatens them saying "I will be satisfied. Deny me this, and an eternal curse fall on you!" (4.1.119-120). These show his greedy nature. At this point Macbeth is also very evil. While he initially felt extremely guilty about the murder of Duncan now he has planned and had committed the murder of Banquo and is planning that of Macduff's family. He tells Lennox, "Seize upon Fife, give to the' edge o' th' sword his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line" (4.1.172-174). This shows how cruel he has become to assure that nobody steals his power.

Macbeth LRJ #3

Natalie Mironov
Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB, Hr 4
2 March 2009

Macbeth: Act 3

In this act, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth qualities begin to switch. Before, Lady Macbeth had been the strong, savage, decision-making one of them and Macbeth was the sorrowful, remorseful one, but now they are beginning to switch roles. While before he felt guilty about murdering Duncan, now he is planning another murder, that of his friend Duncan. He says that he could "with barefaced power sweep him from my sight and bid my will avouch it, yet I must not, for certain friends that are both his and mine" (3.1.135-137). This is Macbeth saying that he would kill Banquo himself if it weren't for the friends they share that he cannot lose. It shows how Macbeth is becoming the cruel one who will do anything for power. This is how Lady Macbeth used to be but now the reader hears her say that "'tis safer to be that which we destroy than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy" (3.2.8-9). This shows how she is beginning to realize what she has done and that it is wrong. Also, Macbeth used to be the follower who was forced into these kind of plots by Lady Macbeth but in this act he plans the murder of Banquo himself and tells Lady Macbeth to "be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, till thou applaud the deed" (3.2.51-52). This shows how now he doesn't even want her to be a part of these awful schemes and he can do them himself.

Throughout this act there are many refernces to blood. It is used as a symbol of guilt. When Macbeth is trying to blame Malcolm and Donalbain for the death of Duncan he says, "We hear our bloody cousins are bestowed in England and in Ireland, not confessing their cruel parricide" (3.1.33-35). This is Macbeth trying to make them sound guilty so nobody is suspicious of him. Another example is when Macbeth tells the murderer that "there's blood upon thy face" (3.4.13-14), meaning that he now has the murder of Banquo on his conscience. Macbeth once more uses blood to represent his guilt saying, "I am in blood stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o'er" (3.4.168-170). This means that he has committed so many murders that even if he did stop it would be just as hard for him return to his normal life because of all the guilt he has.

An important theme is fear and paranoia. After having committed the murders of Duncan and Banquo, Macbeth is very paranoid of other people finding out and coming after him. He is so fearful of people finding out and coming after him that he tries to blame others, like when he tells everyone Malcolm and Donalbain have fled. He says, "We hear our bloody cousins are bestowed in England and in Ireland, not confessing their cruel parricide" (3.1.33-35). This shows how determined he is to blame others so there will be no suspicions on him, that he is blaming the very sons of the dead king for his death. Macbeth is also very paranoid that Banquo will come after him because he heard the prophecy also and is already suspicious of Macbeth for the death of Duncan. He states that Banquo is in "such bloody distance that every minute of his bein thrusts against my near'st of life" (3.1.132-134). This is showing how afraid Macbeth is that Banquo will come after him, especially since Banquo's sons are prophesied to be king. This makes Macbeth afread of all of them and wants them all killed.

Macbeth LRJ #2

Natalie Mironov
Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB, Hr 4
2 March 2009

Macbeth: Act 2

Throughout act two, more negative qualities of Macbeth have become known, such as his inability to speak up for himself. He ended up murdering Duncan even though he knew it wasn't right. Afterwards he was regretful saying, "I am afraid to think what I have done" (2.2.66) and "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood from my hand? No, is my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red" (2.2.78-81). These show how much remorse he has and how even though he has done this dreadful act he still has a conscious, one of his positive attributes.

Lady Macbeth on the other hand is much more outspoken and harsh. She is unsympathetic to Macbeth's worries and is determined to carry out the murder to achieve power. While Macbeth is busy feeling guilty, it seems Lady Macbeth has no conscious at all because she says, "A little water clears us of this deed" (2.2.86), meaning all the guilt will disappear in no time. She is also very deceitful because she pretends to be sleeping and faint when the murder is announced to everyone. She tells Macbeth to "get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us and show us to be watchers" (2.2.90-91). For just a moment during act two the reader is able to see a more gentle and vulnerable side of Lady Macbeth. She tells the reader that "had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done 't" (2.2.16-17). This shows that Lady Macbeth is still able to love and feels for others besides herself.

In this act sleep is used to represent suspicion and guilt. Banquo talks of sleep many times and uses it to show that he is suspicious of Macbeth. First he just speaks of it more generally, saying, "A heavy summons lies like lead upon me, and yet I would not sleep" (2.1.8-9). This is showing that he thinks something is going to happen but he's not sure of what. Later, he goes on to ask Macbeth, "What, sir, not yet at rest? The King's abed" (2.1.15) and also tells him, "I dreamt last night of the three Weird Sisters" (2.1.25). This shows that Banquo is connecting some of this initial suspicion to Macbeth because he had a dream about the Weird Sisters who told Macbeth the prophecy. What also adds to this is that Macbeth is still awake, long after the king and this is unsettling to Banquo. Sleep is also used to symbolize guilt. Macbeth connects sleep with the guilt he has for murdering Duncan. He says, "Methought I heard a voice cry 'Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep' - the innocent sleep" (2.2.47-48). This demonstrates how Macbeth connects sleep to innocence and the murder he has committed to an innocent person so he feels especially guilty.

Macbeth LRJ #1

Natalie Mironov

Ms. Peifer

English 10 IB, Hr 4

23 February 2009

Macbeth: Act 1

Initially Macbeth comes off as a very conflicted character. He is torn between goodness and power. When he hears of the prophecy, Macbeth thinks, "If good, why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid image doth unfix my hair... My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, shakes so my single state of man" (1.3.47-153). This is showing how his mind immediately jumps to the way to achieve power, through murder, but then regrets it because his conscience kicks in and makes him realize that isn't right. This also shows his potential to be evil since the first thing that comes to his mind is to murder the Thane. Lady Macbeth, on the other hand, is very strong, ambitious, and influential. She has a lot of power over Macbeth and is able to push him to do what she wants through things such as questioning his manhood. She says, "When you durst do it, then you were a man" (1.7.56), implying that if he is not able to murder Duncan he is too cowardly to be a man. She also is very power hungry and creates an entire plan for the murder of Duncan. She tells Macbeth they will frame the guards to "bear the guilt of our great quell" (1.7.81-82). Unlike Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, Banquo is a more innocent character and seems to think things all the way through better. When Macbeth asks him if he wants his children to be kings, Banquo replies, "That, trusted home, might yet enkindle you unto the crown, besides the Thane of Cawdor. But 'tis strange. And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles, to betray 's in deepest consequence" (1.3.131-137). This is talking about how trying to get this could lead to bad things that one wouldn't want to do and could still get without having to do anything bad. It shows Banquo's intelligence and goodness as opposed to Macbeth's murderous thoughts.

The theme in this act is power and ambition as well as gender roles. This power and ambition is displayed by Macbeth after hearing of the prophecy because his thought immediately go to murder. Lady Macbeth shows that ambition is important when she says, "Though wouldst be great, art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it" (1.5.18-20). This is saying that to be great one must be ambitious and do so ruthlessly to achieve the goals they are striving for. In this way, she thinks Macbeth should kill Duncan so he will be king and together they will gain more power. The theme of gender roles is more minor but Lady Macbeth portrays an image of men as more violent and women as gentler and more helpless. She says, "Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty. Make thick my blood" (1.5.47-50). This is saying that she wishes she were a man so she could kill Duncan herself, but being a woman, she cannot.

In this act there is also some strong imagery. An example is when Lady Macbeth is speaking to Macbeth of his promise to kill Duncan. She tells him, "I have given suck, and know how tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me. I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out, had I so sword as you have done to this" (1.7.61-67). This image stands out so much because of the awful thought of dashing the brains of one's own baby out. It shows how hungry for power Lady Macbeth is and shows her evil side, displaying how she will do whatever it takes to achieve the power she craves.

Sonnet 116 Commentary

Natalie Mironov
Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB, Hr 4
February 23, 2009

Shakespeare's Sonnet 116

Shakespeare's purpose in Sonnet 116 is to show the reader the glory and the strength of love. He achieves this through his use of metaphors, personification, and the theme.

Shakespeare uses metaphors to say love is "an ever-fixed mark/ That looks on tempests and is never shaken" (5-6) and "the star to every wandering bark" (7). These metaphors portray love as a unwavering guide that is always looking out for people. This makes love seem like a very strong thing since it is there to support you no matter what happens.

Also present in this sonnet is personification. Shakespeare personifies time and love saying "Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks/ Within his bending sickle's compass come" (9-10). This is saying that even though time has the power to make a person's rosy lips and cheeks go away, time cannot control love. This is turn shows how great love is that it es able to resist another very strong power.

The theme of this sonnet is love and Shakespeare is trying to portray the greatness of it to the reader. He does this by saying, "Love is not love/ Which alters when it alteration finds,/ Or bends with the remember to remove" (2-4). This quote states that love isn't really love if it disappears or changes when the one who is loved does. He is saying how potent it is that changes such as these are insignificant and unimportant, and then reinstates that point by saying that it "bears it out even to the edge of doom" (12). Shakespeare's certainty of this is evident in the couplet at the end of the sonnet which says, "If this be error and upon me proved,/ I never writ, nor no man ever loved" (13-14). This ending to the sonnet shows how powerful love is because Shakespeare says that if someone proves this definition of love wrong than nobody has ever really loved because this is truly what love is, an unbelievable strong and glorious thing.

Everyman Theme

      The theme of "Everyman" is that there is more to life than appearance and material goods. The most important thing in life is to do good deeds because if a person doesn't, once everything else is gone, they will have nothing left.

      In the play after Beauty, Strength, and Discretion leave, Good-Deeds says, ,"All earthly things is but vanity:/ Beauty, Strength, and Discretion, do man forsake,/ Foolish friends and kinsmen, that fair spake,/ All fleeth save Good-Deeds" ( 14). This is saying that caring only about beauty, strength and discretion in life is vain. These attributes all disappear at some point, but if one does good deeds they will stick with the person through death and live on even in their memory.

      By hoarding these physical and material belongings people "will become much worse than beasts;/ for now one would be envy another up eat;/ Charity they all clean forget" ( 2). This quote is stating  how people can become hateful and deceiving by fighting for these things and through it they forget to do good. If people concentrated on just doing good things for themselves and others, the world would be a much better place. This is why the theme of "Everyman" is not being vain and doing good. 

Inferno Commentary

Natalie Mironov
Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB
January 9, 2009

The Inferno

"About us now in the depth of the pit we found

a painted people, weary and defeated.

Slowly, in pain, they paced it round and round.

All wore great cloaks cut to as ample a size

as those worn by the Benedictines of Cluny.

The enormous hoods were drawn over their eyes.

The outside is all dazzle, golder and fair;

the inside, lead, so heavy that Frederick's capes,

compared to these, would seem as light as air.

O weary mantle for eternity!

We turned to the left again along their course,

listening to their moans of misery,

but they moved so slowly down that barren strip,

tired by their burden, that our company

was changed at every moment of the hip.

And walking thus, I said: 'As we go on,

may it please you to look about among these people

for any whose name or history may be known.'"

(Alighieri 55-72).

This passage of The Inferno is from circle eight, bolgia six, which is about the hypocrites. The hypocrites are forced to wander endlessly wearing coats that are elegant and extravagent, yet extremely heavy. This is representative of one of Dante's main themes, symbolic retribution. The sinners must wear these coats because on the outside they will appear beautiful and holy, but underneath is the weight of all the lies and wrongdoings that the sinner must carry around forever. The passage also shows how dismal a place hell must be since it is filled with sinners of all types.

This section of the text uses literary devices such as connotation, allusion, similes, and imagery to portray hell and the punishment for hypocrisy. A sad and dejected connotation is especially present in the beginning of the passage when describing the sinners. Dante calls them a "weary and defeated" (Alighieri 56) people, stuck in a "weary mantle" (Alighieri 64) along a "barren strip" (Alighieri 67). This shows how desolate and boring a place they are in because sinners must get punished rather than rewarded.

Allusion and similes are also a key component to understanding the full meaning behind the retribution. The sinners "all wore great cloaks cut to as ample a size as those worn by the Benedictines of Cluny" (Alighieri 58-59). This is referencing the elegant robes worn by the monks in the Benedictine monastry in Cluny. By comparing the robes of the hypocrites to those of the monks, the reader understands how luxurious these cloaks actually appeared. The second allusion goes on to discuss "the inside, lead, so heavy that Frederick's capes, compared to these, would seem as light as air" (Alighieri 62-63). When it says Frederick's capes, Dante is referencing the Roman Emporer, Frederick II, who punished traitors by forcing them to wear leaden capes and placing them in boiling cauldrons. Saying the capes given to the traitors are light as air compared to the ones given the hypocrites in hell emphasizes how heavy these cloaks actually were and how awful the punishment must have been.

Visual imagery is the last important literary device used to support the gloomy atmosphere of hell where the sinners reside. "In the depth of the pit we found a painted people, weary and defeated. Slowly, in pain, they paced it round and round" (Alighieri 55-58). This gives the reader a picture of how dismal and repititious this pit of hell must be with the sinners wandering endlessly due to their hypocrisy during life.

This passage stands out because of the symbolic retribution. The punishment of the sinners is exactly that, punishment, but without being outright torture. In other pits of hell there are more physically painful retributions, but this one is important in that it makes the sinners realize their wrongdoings. The interesting part is how it's done through this weariness rather than them just being stabbed with a sword.

Works Cited

Alighieri, Dante. The Inferno. Trans. John Ciardi. London: Signet Classics, 2001.