Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

1. George and Lennie are cousins and they are trying to find work during the Great Depression.  George is intelligent but arrogant while Lennie has a mental retardation but has incredible strength.  George and Lennie find work at a ranch where they meet Curly and Candy.  Curly is the ranch owner's son and doesn't like either Lennie or George.  George and Lennie's plans are to make enough money until they can buy a ranch of their own.  This is what motivates Lennie and George to keep work during these rough times.  Eventually Curly's wife flirts with Lennie, and Lennie hugs her until it breaks her neck.  This is of course an innocent hug and Lennie did not realize his strength, but Curly doesn't care.  Curly gathers men to hunt Lennie, while George takes Lennie to run away.  George can hear the men right behind them and George3 is forced to kill Lennie himself to save him from the torture the men would put him through.
2. The theme of the book is the corruption of the American dream.  John Steinbeck has written other books that have a similar theme such as Grapes of Wrath.  He shows this theme by expressing George and Lennie's desire to make enough money to own their own ranch one day, but that never happens for them.
3. Steinbeck tone throughout the book was empathetic.  Readers can identify with the main characters and truly feel sorry for them when things go awry.  George has a difficult task of looking after Lennie.  Lennie is the most innocent strong man there is and yet when George is forced to kill Lennie, not a single reader will be left with a dry eye.
4. Steinbeck uses indirect characterization to identify with the characters.  George shows his personality by talking to Lennie.  The reader finds out that Curly is an arrogant hot-head when he tries to pick fights with Lennie.  He uses a serious diction when George and Lennie are speaking to show their deep connection with each other and show that George really cares for Lennie.  George also speaks to Lennie very seriously to show that George doesn't try to treat Lennie any differently.  This shows the serious syntax of the book that Steinbeck presents.

In Search Of

I learned from this video that the filter bubble is limiting the information we receive. Instead of getting all the information we should see, we will only see the information that is relevant and understandable to us.  The video makes me wonder how long this filter bubble has been in place and whether my entire life searching the web has been personally tailored to me.  Where can I find the information im not getting?  Why is the filter bubble in place for those who do not want it?  Now when I search the web I would wish to use a search engine that does not have a filter bubble if one such exists.  After redoing my Shakespeare search, I realize that wikipedia is the first link because I will often use Wikipedia for research.  There is also a complete works of Shakespeare which makes sense since I often google books.  Though I am confused because I have a link to a fishing tackle store, and, though i love to fish, I have never made that apparent over the internet.  I wonder which factor causes Google to think that should be one of the top links for me whether it be my computer or location.

Notes on Hamlet

At first I thought Hamlet was going to do act irrationally based on is emotions after his father's death.  I understood that he wanted revenge on Claudius, but I was confused as to why he would openly consider suicide as possible option.  I can now see that Hamlet is a master strategist.  He has gradually gained control over his emotions and is ready to reveal Claudius.  He has slowly been damaging Claudius's psyche and wants to kill him soon.  I think the rest of this book is going to end with a blood bath.  Hamlet is going to set his plan in motion but Claudius knows that Hamlet knows, so he will naturally be trying to counteract Hamlet's plans.

Who was Shakespeare?

Shakespeare was the father of the English language.  Many words that exist today can be traced back to one of Shakespeare's plays.  Also the way we speak English today can be seen as a change that first started during Shakespeare's time.  I think of Shakespeare as this noble gentlemen who was highly regarded during his time and famous among all royals.  Of course, this isn't true.  Shakespeare was actually a commoner and was very poor.  Though he was a master of the class system and the English language, it still didn't grant him any merits among nobility.  I am confused as to why people would want to discredit Shakespeare as a writer/playwright and give this credit to Edward De Vere, even though this is is egregious.

To Facebook or Not To Facebook

At first I thought that Facebook was a way for people to socialize and find people they once knew.  Of course this is true, but there is more to Facebook then what is seen on the surface.  There are risks to using Facebook like strangers reading posts, lurkers, and Facebook selling your information.  Facebook's privacy settings are atrocious and won't help anyone hide information.  It is now to my understanding that my information is being sold to corporations after today's discussion.

Be Hamlet

     Hamlet is an emotional wreck.  His father has recently died, his mother quickly remarried his uncle, and he discovered that his uncle had killed his father in order to become king.  Hamlet is currently deciding whether or not he should commit suicide because of these atrocities that have occurred to him. Though these awful things have happened to him, I still believe that Hamlet should live.

     Hamlet still has a lot to live for.  Hamlet should continue to live his life to one day take revenge on his uncle.  If Hamlet were to die, then Claudius wins.  Claudius got everything he wanted and didn't have to suffer the consequences of killing his own brother.  Claudius deserves to be punished for his crimes and Hamlet is the only person who is able to do that.  Hamlet can also overcome this adversity to apply this experience when he becomes king.  Even if he doesn't kill Claudius, one day Claudius will die and Hamlet will become king.  He could use this knowledge to understand that no one should be trusted when he is king, not even a brother.

     Hamlet should not commit suicide.  Suicide should be the last thought on his mind right now since Claudius is the one who should die.  Hamlet has plenty of reasons to continue and life, and I think that enacting revenge is one of those reasons.  Hamlet should be able to focus his mind on the task at hand and do what must be done.