One of the prominent motifs in August Wilson’s acclaimed play, "Fences", is baseball. Firstly, Troy Maxson is connected to baseball because he was once a star in the Negro Leagues. However, despite his exceptional talent in hitting the ball outside of the park, which has made him well known, he was not accepted to the Major Leagues due to the fact that he is African American. Troy’s standing as a once promising baseball player provides him credence as an authority of the baseball stars in the 1950s. Indeed, it can even be said that Troy would have been a great player if not for the racial issues in the sport during the time.Troy comes to know Josh Gibson because they share the same circumstances in their baseball careers. Like Troy, Josh Gibson was a star player for the Negro Leagues and could have been of great value to the Major League? But because he was also African American, he was denied admission to the Major League. However, their main difference is that unlike Troy, Josh Gibson made a wonderful career for himself which was tragically cut short by his premature death at the age of thirty-five years. Gibson’s career as a player is symbolic in the play because it is a historical illustration of how racial issues affect individuals. The segregation of races in baseball prevented Troy from achieving his full potential. And like a cruel joke on his life, the Major League started accepting blacks when he was already past his prime. As Rose tells Troy, “They got lots of colored boys playing ball now. Baseball and football” (I.i.76). Similarly, Bono understands the tragic circumstances that hindered Troy. He tells him that “Times have changed, Troy, you just come along too early” (I.i.77).Because Troy’s tragedy lies in his failure to enter the Major League, he becomes fixated with baseball and uses it to describe the circumstances of other characters. For instance, he keeps tab of Cory’s defiance by pertaining to his insubordination as “strike one” and “strike two.” Moreover, he rationalizes his affair with Alberta by saying that he wants “to steal second” (II.i.118). And finally, he regards death as a “fastball on the outside corner” (I.i.82) and frequently refers to his story about his battle with death he fabricates.

Revenge is set at the center of the play and drives the characters' actions while adding to the exciting events in the play, this does not mean that Hamlet is a revenge play as some have argued. This is for instance confirmed by the fact that Hamlet has no need to investigate the cause of his father's death as his father's ghost communicated with him the nature of the events surrounding his murder. Hamlet does not need to search for the identity of the murdered as he knows its his uncle. The only obstacles in his way of revenge are ones he creates himself through hesitation, self-doubt, and indecisiveness. he manages to avenge his father's death at the end, he does so at the expense of the lives of his mother, the girl he loves, her father, brother, and himself. The agony of the closing scenes could have been avoided had Hamlet been able to take action and avenge his father. It are these particular facts which transform Hamlet into a tragedy of both the individual as well as the state. Hamlet is a very melancholic and tragic person. He contemplates death and his own suicide at several instances in the play. Also, he does not seem to be particularly content with his family or himself. This unhappiness with the external world is clear through his unfavorable outlook on his mother's marriage with his uncle Claudius. It is thereby also clear through his harsh repudiation of his love, Ophelia. In this context, it is interesting to observe how Hamlet's words seem often to indicate a general disgust and mistrust of women. the Prince of Denmark appears little concerned with the state of affairs in Denmark and his actions reflect throughout the play the worsening state of the nation. Hamlet can be summarized as a philosophical, melancholic, hesitant, intellectual, and destructively rash and impulsive character who indulges in his own selfish desires at several instances in the play, at the expense of himself and those around him which eventually contributes to the tragedy of not only himself but also of the state of Denmark.

Hamlet

Hamlet becomes angry for whats happening with his uncle and mother. he thought of committing suicide but did not proceeds because God views suicide as a sin. But he is also very upset for his fathers death. he wants revenge from those People who betrayed him. " i'll have these players play something like murder of my father before mine uncle...( line 569-570).
hamlets friend tell him they saw a ghost that looks like his father. At first he does not believe them he wants to see this ghost with his own eyes. He goes to see the Ghost and realize it is his father. his Father tells him that his uncle was the cause of his death, he poisoned him. Hamlet states that his uncle married his mother to become king. "upon my secure hour thy uncle stole with juice of cursed hebona in a vail and in the porches of my ears did pour"(line 61-63). this means that his uncle is to become king since he was the next in line. "O most pernicious woman O villain, villain, smiling damned villain my troubles meet it is i set down..( 105-110) Hamlet is stating he would erase all false and trivial images and saying of his uncle because of all the wrong things he did to his family and father.

Love a surprise box

The option that I chose for my blog is option 2.. let me start by saying that "The Horse dealer's Daughter" was one my favorite of the 4 readings we had for this assignment.

I am going to start with D.H. Lawrence short story which is "The Horse dealer's Daughter," in this story the main characters Mabel Pervin and Dr. Jack Fergusson undergo dramatic experience in which both fall inevitable and in love. This story is also representing the power of love, how it could happen and how these love is able to transform the lives of these two characters. also there is many powerful symbols that actually show how these characters change. THE POND is the most important symbol of these story, this one represents many aspects of Mable life. "[As he walks in the pond]... he could smell the cold, rotten clay."(482). this might represent how isolated, lonely, sad and putrid her life is, This also could depict the feeling she has towards life she sees is senseless and unworthy she has no parents and lost all material possessions.For Mable and the Dr. the water in the pond symbolizes a new life a change, (this might resemble a religious baptism where the water is use to wash the sins of the life) similar to that Mabel is able to wash her old dark life and reborn."She looked up at him with flaring, humble eyes, of transfiguration, triumphant in first possession."( 484) this quote confirm her reborn and new life and how she is able to lose her dark shame. as a final thought in this story, Dr. as the story gets to the end make you believe that he is going to reject her with comment and feelings such as" He was afraid even a little horrified ...and he never intended to love her." (484-485). instead these comments and feeling s depict and express that love is something that no one is able to control and it is a feeling and experience that cannot be planned or foreseen this happen unexpectedly

"The Lady with the dog" by Anton Chekhov is about a man 40 year old man that fall in love with a very young and good looking woman that has a Pomeranian dog. even though this man preaches that women is "the lower race" he actually enjoy their company and feel more identify with women than men. as is explained love is something unplanned it is just like a surprised box it is there when we least expected. in the case of these characters, they had a an affair that actually took both of them to have a transformation, specially Gurov.  he is able to discover that women are not lower than himself, on other hand he  is able to find love. 

Hidden Darkness:

(Mrs. Mallard Ungrateful Bitch or Free Woman./Montessor Crazy Killer with thirst of Power)

hello!! everyone the option I chose for third blog is the Number 3, as you may see my title may sound offensive or unprofessional, but as you read my blog you will understand why I'm calling Mrs Mallard a "free woman, or why i may call her with a derogatory word such as bitch". In the case of Montressor there is no other way for me to see him, I could only see a man that is capable to kill for power.

"The Story of an Hour" By Kate Chopin and the  "Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe posses and shows many symbols and irony that a certain extent could could be consider dark.

On the one hand, in the "Cask of Amontillado" we can notice that irony is use mostly to gives touches of black/dark humor and suspense, it also gives the story that thrill and dark, hopeless and macabre images.

In Poe's story the first symbol of irony  that can not go unnoticed is the word "cask" which is in the tittle. this word has for meaning barrel as well as casket or coffin (these last two are derived from the Latin root). in short, with this info we are able to understand that the "Cask" represents the Fortunato's Tomb, hopeless and claustrophobic death, and of course his casket. On the other hand, the character of Fortunato is full of this dark irony, first of all his name translated to English means Fortune, but as we all know he is not fortunate at all, his addiction for wine would take him to be trapped and finally to death. moreover, Poe tell us that Fortunato is a man of high class that is "respected...feared and millionaire"  he appears dress "motley. He had on tight-fitting parti-striped dress, and his head was surmounted by the conical cap and bells."(525) his clothes contrast with his social and economical status, this part of Poe's dark humor. the fact that he is dress up as joker represents that he is a buffoon and fool that would be fooled by Montressor.  

In the story there is many episodes where Poe shows irony through Montressor, they seem to be more noticeable in dialogues than symbols or images. A couple of examples are:  when both characters see each other at the beginning of the story Montrressor says "My dear Fortunato, you are luckily met."(525) (lucky, i dont think so) this was not luck for Fortunato since this meeting would be the beginning of his death and beginning of Montressor evil plan. Furthermore, in numeros times Montressor seems to be worry about his fellow rival by telling him "we will go back your health is precious..{and when Montressor makes a toss for Fortunato by saying] I too fr your long life." (526) Here, he is a total hypocrite and this is also the biggest irony he was about trapped Fortunato in the cave and let him slowly die in darkness pretty much a total torture but there he was asking him about his health. Poe uses irony to give the story suspense and dark images to confuse and deviate the audience, so they would not know what the real intention of character are,(Montressor) so the reader would have a surprising climax and ending.

 

Story of an Hour, if this short story is read the first time the first that may come come to our minds would be"Oh!!! what kind of woman is this?? , getting happy due to the death of her husband, heartless, B$%^@, gold digger, selfish. but this story it is all the contrary, this is the story of a woman that for the first time she thought!!!  she was going to be able to take her decision for herself that she will not be control by anyone....but to understand this we have to know that this short story took place in the 1800 where woman had no right for anything all they could do was to stay in the house. in the story she imagine " that there would be no powerful will bending hers."(338) meaning that she feels she is being control  for many woman staying in the house was like being in jail being trapped and in the case of Mrs. Mallard was not different...this character is just the voice of women letting the world know the reality how they actually feel.
the irony in this story is somewhat dark due to the happiness experience by Mrs. Mallard in the event of the death of her husband.  Chopin introduces her main character as woman that "was afflicted with a heart trouble" (337). Problems usually mean sentimental problems or sadness of some sort, applying this on the character her life was pretty much meaningless for her. As the story goes on Mrs. Mallard locks herself up in her room, there she has an epiphany where through window she sees a new beginning in her life. soon enough she worried her family her sister eagerly ask "Louise, Open the door I beg...you will make yourself ill."(338) as many submissive wife she was expected to be braking down and crying the death of her husband but ironically, she was" drinking in a very elixir of life"(338). this could interpret means her new life and the days that are to come for her and just for her and finally she could be that "goddess of victory" (338) ruling her own life and being free of the bending power of man. at the end of the story it results that her husband is alive, and when she sees him she dies and the doctors said "she had died of heart disease-joy that kills.(339). she had tastes freedom just for an hour, she felt what owning oneself feels like, and now without her liberty there is not life for her. also doctors say she died of joy that kill ironically they did not that she was feeling the "goddess of victory" they just assumed that she died that way because that was expected from women, also the doctors where men so they would just give the answer that was more convenient.

******A woman that does not fit in a man rule society had no other option that to died or sacrifice herself to obtain freedom!!!!

Chopin uses irony to transfer an specific message to her audience, which in this case is the suffering of women with out her her freedom. she uses symbolism to make this technique more effective. also she usues irony to give a surprising and in some way unexpected end that would make auidience realize and reflect on her message.

Bizarre/ Normal 

The story I chose for my second blog is "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson. This story is very misleading and also poses an end with a strange twist. this story takes place in very small town or village in which people seem to very polite, and strongly traditional about their rituals. Every year the people from this village would have a lottery in which the winner would be disturbingly kill or stoned by not by family members, but little kids and friends as well. In this short story the author had used the dramatic or objective point of view which does an excellent in hiding her real intentions. if the author had used  omniscient point of view which means all knowing, she would reveal thoughts actions and assumptions,and  the climax of this story would of being ruined. In contrast to the dramatic point of view where "the author is limited only to what it said and what happens...[and]does not overtly draw conclusions or make interpretations" (125).Then, the use of a different point of view would have ruined the suspense, the mystery and the disturbing twist at the end. A good example of the story would be when"Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pocket full of stones."(140). at this point us as reader notice that there something bizarre or abnormal is going on, this specific action opens the door for the mystery and makes the reader reflect and start to ask questions.

On the other hand  Jackson is very good at misleading the audience,since the beginning of the of the first sentences she tries to make the reader comfortable  she portraits a village where everyone seems not only polite but very friendly. An excellent example is when "They greeted one another and exchanged bits of gossip."(141). she makes the reader feel comfortable by camouflaging anything that might seem bizarre or abnormal during the curse of the lottery, she usually does this by giving descriptions of activities or pacific description of the places. "the lottery was conducted as where the square dances, teen age club, and Halloween program."(141). Even though she tries cover whats consider "abnormal" with the "normal" the audience is still able to feel the bizarre and unknown that is while the lottery is taking place.

An extra thought
"soon men began to gather...speaking of planting and rain.. taxes.. and their jokes quiet and they smiled rather than laugh.(141)...her we could notice that there was something suspicious, why??? they seem quiet nervous they are trying to talk about anything just to get distracted but inside they were probably very anxious and maybe scared, even if they try to joke around they couldn't even laugh due to that anxious feeling they could only fake a smile.

Dead Weight

Hello everyone, my name is Miguel Hernandez, and the story i choose for my first post was "The things they carried" by Tim O'Brien. Let me start saying this short story reminded me of two literary works which are the poem  "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori" by Wilfred Owen, and the the science fiction novel Slaughterhouse Five from  Kurt Vonnegut, in all these we are able to see how young man fight for their country, and how war is not not successful and it is not full of glory as many history book has portrayed it.
In the story "The things that they carry" Jimmy Cross very young man he is captain of a troop of seventeen men, he was sent with his men to fight in the Vietnam war, but it seems that they were very unprepared for such as great task. For example the item that they were carrying "such as pocket knives, heat tabs, wrist watches, dig tags...chewing,candy [and] kool aid."(97) In this quote we can see that they we not ready for war, but they were ready for a vacation, they were carried item that are usually use by kids and young adults. Moreover, all these items represented a dead weight not only because they were heavy and they have carry them around but they also represent a psychological extra weight that they have carry. For example "hey all carry ghost"(100). these could be memories of the family, stress of surviving this war, fear, sadness and others. Jimmy Cross had some ghosts that he had to carry around they were simple a couple of letter they only 10 ounces, but just carrying them would cost him a very high price. These letters were form his girlfriend his girlfriend Martha, he would always be thinking about her and the few moments the shared, who was to blame him as it is explain by the author Tim O'Brien he was young and he was just a kid in love during war.he would think too much about her to the point were "He had difficulty keeping his attention to the war."(100) he is so obsessed with this girl that never cared about him or how he is doing at war and that will never be his made him lose a touch with really and forget about his men. suddenly "Ted lavender was shot on his way from peeing"(104). Due to the distraction cause by his masochistic and obsessive memories he lost a man, and there was no way to bring him back. this event made him chance and decide to leave this soft and senseless love that only brought an unrealistic hope and death.

Ps. He seems more like a round character he is able to change over the curse of the story.