Journal #2

The time, the place, everything is perfect for my plan of Macbeth killing Duncan to go through, but my damn husband... What a coward, and he calls himself a man, I married a fool. He has everything right in front of him yet he is still hesitant. He wants to be King, does he not?! I will put the dagger through Duncan myself if I have too, but my husband shall become King. He must. I am this close to becoming queen, he can't say no now. I will make him do the deed if it's the last thing I do.

Journal #1

It has finally happened.. My husband, the Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth has finally sent a letter home with the most amazing news, he has worked so hard to get to this point. All the power we shall have... The fame, the glory and all the riches. We deserve all the power we shall get. And what else to better the news, the King is coming to my house.. to dine with us! But to be King, million times better than just a Thane. But having him in my own home is just a closer way of getting my husband to taking his power. Ah, to be married to the King, higher than all these commoners. I must convince Macbeth to take the life of the King, he deserves this... I deserve this.

Macbeth/Lady Macbeth

For my journals, I will be writing from the point of view of Lady Macbeth. Her role feels much more dramatic and strong and I believe it will be interesting to be writing from her eyes. I feel her character is expressed better in the play with feelings and emotion that it would be easier to write how she feels.

Identity

Identity, as defined in the Webster’s dictionary is “the distinguishing character or personality of an individual”. One may have their own unique identity, but many always find themselves relating and identifying to the world around them. Authors continue to do this in their literature, not only by describing the looks but also by emotion, values and experience.

 When reading, many find that the more one can relate to a piece of literature, the more interested they will be when reading it. To help readers connect better with their literature, authors use more relatable ideas and scenes in which many can identify with. Basic problems and stories can be quite common; the story may have an underlining issue that a reader may have feel a connection with their own identity. For example, in “A&P”, the story involved a boy who worked at a local grocery store, in which, one day a few girls entered the store dressed in bikinis. The manager embarrassed the girls by calling them indecent and asking them not to dress in that fashion. Frustrated by the injustice the boy quit, saying to the manager, “You didn’t have to embarrass them” (p.4). With the morals he had in his own identity, he knew he could not just stand there and watch as this went on. Although the events are not as common and not usually seen, the feeling of injustice the boy had felt and wanting to stand up for what is right is something many can identify with. One can identify with the values the boy had to not just stand there and watch.

 Values help shape a person in how they live their life, act around others and behave in their everyday lives. In “Brother Dear” the value is being you no matter what others say, another very common feeling to identify with. The story has the character Greg returning from university, and all he gets upon arrival are judgments for his actions and disapproval. He gets fed up with the thought that has been stuck in his father’s head, which is without an education or a job you are nothing. Greg, aggravated by the constant nagging, says, “You’re not what you do. You’re who you are.” (p.7). Throughout the story he is trying to prove to his father that, university is not where you become who you are but that it is a mere step which some choose to take and some do not. It should not make you any less of a person, “If going to university is supposed to make something out of you, what are you before you go?” (p.7). This situation is easy to relate to because I believe that education is not necessary for becoming who you are, it is something I personally identify with. Having an identity requires staying true to it, and the way the author portrayed it helped there be a relation form between Greg and I, the reader.

 Authors use common experiences to help others connect and identify with what they have written. In Forest Gump, Mrs. Gump says to Forest, “You have to do the best with what God gave you”. Throughout his life, Forest lived by making that phrase shape his identity. He knows that what you have may not be perfect but you always have a way of making it perfect for you. This helped many identify with the common emotion of being different and having difficult obstacles interfere with your life. The author shows how one phrase spoken to him by his mother as a child can stick to one and shape their identity.

To identify with others is not as complicated as it may seem. As one time or another, people may have come across the same feeling of connection with the same piece of literature. All that is needed is some feeling, morals and experiences from the past in which a reader can relate with.

Journal Response #1

"To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, -- that is genius. Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string."

In life, people will tell you what you say or think is wrong. Society will pull you back from who you are because they aren’t ready to except your thoughts or ideas.
“To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, -- that is genius”, Emerson is saying that, even though others may not accept you, accept yourself. In the end the only thought that will matter is your own. You are not a given a mind and heart of your own to conform to society, and match others thoughts and ideas. Be your own person with your own feelings and points of view. Stay true to how you feel and don’t let anyone tell you differently.
“Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string”, every feeling man has is unique, so stay true to it. Everyone will have a different feeling, that doesn’t mean one will be wrong or another right, it just means more honesty and ideas. Have faith in the words you speak and others will accept you. Because if you believe in what you say than do others opinion really matter?  

Identity - Beautiful U R by Deborah Cox

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRQj3SkrkU8

I chose this song for "identity" because the message is clear, "Beautiful U R". This song explains how no matter what happens in life, you should stay true to yourself. Through all the hardships that may arise, through any challenges you may face; you are you, and you, are beautiful. Identity is explained in this song by showing that no matter the circumstances that are encountered during your life, you should stay solely content with who you are and not worry about the conceptions given by others. Your identity is yours, so stay true to it, and it will in turn be true to you.