Act II and the beginning of Act III

II.ii.25

Viola: I am the man.

When Malvolio brings a ring to Viola with the claim that Olivia said she had forgotten it, Viola realizes that Olivia is in love with Cesario her male disguise. Therefore, “I am the man,” is Viola stating that Cesario, her male alter ego, is the man Olivia loves.

II.v.143-145

Malvolio: …..and yet to crush it a little, it would bow to me…

Malvolio comes across the letter Maria has written to Malvolio to trick him into thinking that Olivia is in love with him. However, she did not actually write Malvolio’s name on it but rather the initials M.O.A.I. Since Malvolio wants to be with Olivia, he desperately wants the letter to have been written to him. Therefore, he concludes that the letters in the initials correspond to his own name, Malvolio, and thus comes to the conclusion this love letter from “Olivia” is for him.

III.i.148-9

Viola: Then Think you right. I am not what I am.

Olivia: I would you were as I would have you be.

Olivia has a private meeting with Viola. When Viola tries to leave, Olivia basically throws herself at Viola to prevent her from leaving. Viola tells Olivia that she is not whom she appears to be; she is a woman not the man Cesario that Olivia loves. However, Olivia’s reply is that whoever she wants Viola to be, Viola will be. Olivia is in love and happy and wants to stay that way. She does not want to accept that her love for Cesario, Viola’s male persona, cannot be returned.

Paper I Reflection

For me writing the small object/large subject essay was very intriguing. There are so many small objects in contemporary American society that speak volumes about the morals and values held within the society. In the beginning I was completely clueless as to what to write, but as I sat and really thought about things that consumed our day to day lives a lot of “stuff” came to mind. I came up with credit cards, Blackberries, energy drinks and many more. The one I decided to write about was diet pills, however I did discuss a diet plan in the actual essay. All I could think about were television ads for Alli, a diet pill, and Jenny Craig, a diet plan. There are plenty more commercials promoting weight loss, and I am confident that I can safely say that all of the spokeswomen are “skinny” and the spokesmen are “fit.” Therefore, discussing the contemporary American society’s view on appearance was not a very difficult task. In our society appearance is held on a high pedestal. This ideal body is one that is “skinny” or “fit.” Many strive to achieve this for reasons such as health, fear caused by the obesity epidemic and because they think that they are “fat.” If I may have a personal moment; I can honestly say that this is one value that I do not care for. Yes, I aim to be healthy, of course I want to look good, and no I do not want to become “fat,” but “skinny” is not in as far as I am concerned. Health should be the main concern....and then appearance.

Inkshedding. Act II Sc.1 Line 43-47

Antonio to Sebastian: "The gentleness of all gods go with thee! I have many enemies in Orsino's court, else would I shortly see thee there. But come what may, I adore thee so that danger shall seem sport, and I will go."

In this short passage Antonio shows his love and devotion towards Sebastian. Throughout scene 1 Antonio is basically begging to serve Sebastian. However, Sebastian does not want any harm to be brought to Antonio beccause he accompanies him. When Sebastian announces that he will go to Orsino's court, Antonio wishes Sebastian the best on his journey and asks that the gods go with him. Antonio admires Sebastian's love for his sister and Sebastian's bravery and so he will risk his own life to accompany Sebastian to Orsino's Court, even though he has enemies there. So, for Antonio this voyage to Orsino's court will be a dangerous adventure that he endures by taking it on as some kind of game.

Questions Concerning "The Twelth Night"

I don't have six questions, for now. However, the questions I do have are:
1- How did Olivia's brother and father die?
2-Why does Toby feel Andrew should pursue Olivia if he is basically seen as a "bum?"
3-Why does Viola wish to "work with" Olivia and then Orsino? Why is she so desperate that she portrays herself as an Eonuch?

Cut it up and Tape it Back Together!

1-When asked to literally cut up an “A paper,” and tape it back together to create an even better paper, I was not sure what to do or what to cut. I read through the essay once and then a second time. On the second reading I saw that cutting whole paragraphs and placing them somewhere else made my essay even better! The flow seemed perfect and I really got into the entire process. Who would ever think that literally cutting up your own paper would perfect it even when you thought there was no more “perfecting” to be done. Most of the time when I revise I check for grammar and spelling on the computer. Then I print a hard copy and really analyze it checking for wordiness, poor grammar usage, basically making sure the paper makes sense. Sometimes I may have someone look over it to get a second opinion but that is rare.

2- To metaphorically describe my revising process, I would have to say I am like sketch artist. A beautiful picture comes to mind, I draw it and it comes out nice. Then I look over it and with a few more minor sketches and a little erasing, I make it beautiful.

“To Take Wildness Into Hand” By Michelle Nijhuis (Abstract)

This article discusses the proposal of assisted migration. This is the notion that in order to mitigate climate change, plants and animals should just be carried to a better habitat (p.183). This idea stems from a writer and naturalist, Connie Barlow, in response to the extremely endangered tree, Torreya Taxifolia presently located in Torreya State Park right outside the banks of the Apalachicola (p.181). While some ecologists admire this suggestion others, mainly conservationists, are against such a proposal. The reason being that the unknowns of such a task are far too many and that the possibility of failure is too great (p.187).

Assisted migration is compared to re-designing. This is the biggest fear to anti-assisted migration advocates because it is man tampering with nature. This creates a mixture for more than just failure (p.185). Even more so, the reason for the progressing extinction of the Torreya Taxifolia tree is unknown (p.184)! So to use this tree as a “guinea pig” for assisted migration is not such a good idea. The slimming existence of the Torreya Taxifolia tree may very well be nature‘s doing but I guess people rather gamble against nature. Assisted migration and all of its unknowns and possible failure is not merely a risky task, but not a match for the central problem that is climate change.

"Virtual Iraq" -Sue Harpern- (Abstract)

“…VR therapy, maybe it will work. We’re a video game generation. It’s what we grew up on. So maybe we’ll respond to it.” This was stated by Paul Rleckoff but some doctors, psychologist and researchers share the same belief. VR stands for virtual reality. VR Therapy is being proposed by some doctors for the treatment of PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. VR is explained to be a CBT, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, which is meant to take the traumatic experiences and re-introduce those memories to the patient. Once done continuously, the memory of those events may remain but it is now a discrete event instead of a self-replicating encompassing condition (p.119). As previously mentioned, some doctors and psychologist have endorsed the idea, but others are more skeptical fearing it may have the opposite effect.

“Travis Boyd” is used to exemplify the success of VR therapy. He is a veteran and a PTSD patient. In order to live his day to day life VR Therapy was proposed and he accepted. While he was not cured of PTSD, he has testified that the intrusive thoughts have dissipated, and he is learning to live with his PTSD and cope with the memories of his tour of duty in Iraq (p.128). He was used as an example that VR Therapy works. However, I would not be quick to side with the belief that VR Therapy may be the ideal treatment for PTSD patients because "Boyd" is only the story of one man. Even more so, the reader does not know how mild or extreme his case of PTSD was to determine any amount of success in VR Therapy. Yes, a lot of information about VR Therapy was supplied by the author, but other than “Travis Boyd,” VR Therapy remains an experiment.

"High-Tech Trash" By Chris Carroll (Abstract)

Citizens do not have any harmful intention when they recycle, just the idea that they are doing their part in taking care of mother earth. However, unbeknownst to them, the waste from our vast majority of electronics is doing the opposite of their expectations. E-waste, electronic waste, is ending up in under developed countries such as Ghana in Africa, and also heavily populated countries such as China. This is shared with us by Carroll from his personal visits to Ghana and China. Such e-waste carries extremely harmful chemicals that can cause serious health defects to those who dismember the parts to sell as scrap for just a little piece of change (p.30).

According to Mensah, a well-to-do man whom Carroll interviewed in Ghana, “the key to making money is speed, not safety (p.31). It is this kind of mentality that has allowed something meant to benefit the world and its inhabitants, to become something exploited because of greed. Sadly, it has all people fooled, including the owners of recycling companies who assumed they were doing a good deed and making a profit by selling e-waste to be re-used. Even more disappointing is that citizens in the world have come together to promote“going green” to save the planet have been, but from movies such as “Exporting Harm,” the truth is reveaveled about our recyclables and e-waste (p.34). The fight has most certainly become weakened.

E-waste is a serious issue that is effecting specifically under-developed countries. Sooner or later it will soon come back to haunt the developed countries who dump their e-waste in those under-developed countries. Yes, laws have been passed, or attempted to be passed but, but they have been too weak to be of any relevance . One such legislation was the Basel Convention. However, it was too weak and the Basel Ban came into play. Only Europe actively seeks to observe it. Yet still illegal exporting of e-waste is still active. The US, on the other hand, has taken on a more laid back approach to the issue (p.32). So I must ask myself, as I am sure others have done, is “going green” even worth it? Maybe for everything else, but when it comes to e-waste my best bet is probably to just dump it in the garbage.