Oral Presentation Reflection

In our group project scene: Act II Scene III...

• "Had I but died an hour before this chance. I had lived a blessed time; for from this instant There's nothing serious in mortality; All is but toys: renown and grace is dead; The wine of life is drawn, and the mere lees is left this vault to brag of"
  
  -Macbeth
  
  We see how power has corrupted Macbeth, through his actions and words. To the point in which Macbeth would murder the King's servants, to further rid any evidence of his misdeeds, as well as lie about the details regarding King Duncan's murder, to save himself of any suspicion. This newly-found corruption stems from the promise of power given to him by the prophecy of the witches. Showing that Macbeth's character is one that is willing to consider doing anything; so long as they get what they want.

• Something important which I've come to learn by working with this group, is that everyone brings with them their own unique ideas, experiences and abilities. These assets can help provide to an overall better quality of work to share to others. However, these qualities can also work against the group, due to many uncertain complications and personal differences within each other. The key to a successful collaboration is to maximize everyone's full potential to contribute, and to minimize everyone's concerns as well as weaknesses for the better of the group. As shown with how Josh, Elyjah, and I contributed different ideas that we thought only were the most necessary for the project, and assumed specific roles in the group based on what we thought we excelled at the most.

• Something that I noticed that I need to work on for next time, is my management of time. During the past few weeks working with my group, I noticed that we all had a theory down and a general concept of how the project would work; but it took far much longer for us to actually implement our ideas in tangible terms (actually going to work on the project). Therefore giving us less time to focus on the quality of our work.

•  Overall, the thing I am most proud of in our group's work is our incorporation of humor to give the scene a much more different tone than usually given off to the audience. This made the scene much more captivating and interesting, and I think that this attracted the audience. Some of our classmates congratulated us for our work, and that's all I aimed to do: To please.

•  If I were to divide a pie with our group's individual work percentages on it, I would divide it for everyone in three equal loads but in different portions. Due to how we all contributed equally in some way or another, but did so in different ways. Josh provided us with the space and tools to work, as well as gave important feedback on the project. Elyjah on the other hand, cooperated well and never hesitated to share his thoughts for the project. Despite never having been acquainted until now, he nevertheless delivered when it came to critical moments and always came prepared.
  
  Lastly, I provided ideas as well as plans for the project, and cooperated with the group with whatever was needed to be done. I always tried to incorporate everyone's ideas within my work so that we could have a project that we all could be proud of.

Understanding Macbeth: Act 2, Scene 3

In Act 2 Scene 3 we encounter alot of future foreshadowing as well as strange irony of things to come. In this scene, we begin to see Macbeth's actions give birth to later future consequences, as well as a hint of how everything will end. Portrayed by references of "the gate" from which Macduff; Macbeth's future killer arrives in, to the Porter, making references of the devil, as to signify the sins within Macbeth's walls and the beginning of a new change.

The 2 EQs we chose to do were "How power corrupts" and "How far one was willing to go to get what he/she desires the most."

Within this scene
we see by his deeds from the latter scenes how he has changed dramatically from neutrality to evil

"If a man were porter of hell-gate, he should have old turning the key" -Porter

(A reference to Macbeth's newly found-corruption)


We also see within this scene how far Macbeth would go to get what he desires the most, even as far as to kill King Duncan's chamberlains to get rid of further evidence, and lie about it

"O, yet I do repent me of my fury, that I did kill them." - Macbeth

This scene clearly lays out the now darker tone within the plays' plot and the turning point of Macbeth's story, The beginning of his corruption and tragedy.

comment power/ambition

You have some good insight and understanding into the first part of the play. What source have youused? Please acknowledge your sources? I was glad to see that you have backed up one of your points with evidence from the text.

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Ms. Caldwell, please see revisions when you can. Please and thank you! :)

My Deepest Desire

My deepest desire takes its place not upon the glory of fame or the lustre of wealth and riches, nor does it truly live in the comfort of dwelling in achievements of times past. But it resides in the air; untouchable, unseen yet all around us. Intangible.

Happiness.

Macbeth Act 1: Corruption

In the beginning of Macbeth, we are introduced to the concept of desire through the idea of power. In the story of Macbeth, we see as to how far a man may go for what he wants through his own personal ambitions and desires. The introduction of the tale describes a man's dark change through the portrayal of many contrasts and conflicting ideals. Numerous allusions are found in the very beginning of the story through the many dialogues spoken by key characters within the tale. One example of such, is Macbeth's first line throughout the whole tragedy: "So foul and fair a day I have not seen". This speech gives not only a visual of a middle ground between good and evil; but shows the many moral dillemmas and conflicts approaching ahead.

Power is one of many things that drives us as human beings; a desire. Macbeth is no exception from the rest of us. The story from the beginning, forebode a warning of the numerous consequences to unfold. A story of a man's selfish desire. One of humanities' oldest tales: A tale of tragedy

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References

http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/macbeth/section1.rhtml

http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/macbeth/section2.rhtml

http://shakespeare.mit.edu/macbeth/full.html

Macbeth Sparknotes

http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/macbeth

The Barber's Crisis

In Hernando Tellez' "Just Lather, That's All", we all learn the true meaning of identity. Through the barber's eyes we see life in his perspective, and we begin to discover and relate to his personal conflicts and struggles. Throughout the story, we see him fight over his two conflicting ideals, indicating an identity crisis, with which all of us can relate to. In the end of the story, we see his peace-loving ideal triumph over his revolutionary side. This story relates to many individuals because many people have been through very similar situations throughout their lives.

Identity is a very unique and all-encompassing quality with which guides as to how we live. Sometimes the personal qualities that guide an individual can also hinder his/her growth. As shown as how the barber's political ideals conflict with his peace-loving and honest nature. This example shows, that in order to achieve growth, one must be able to occasionally let go of old ideals, in order to further grow.


Hernando Tellez' short story tells a beautiful tale of personal growth, and inner discovery. It is a truly marvelous tale, and I highly enjoyed it

Just Lather, That's All

This image represents confusion. In the story “Just Lather, That’s All”. We feel a sense of confusion and inner conflict within the barber’s self, for his true identity. The barber, who is a secret revolutionary, holds in his hands his greatest enemy: Captain Torres. Throughout the story we see the barber battle within himself for his true morality and real identity. Like everyone at one point in their lives, we all will have to make a choice. Some choices are harder than others, and some will force us to really discover ourselves for who we are.

Greg's Identity

In Bernice Friesen’s short story, “Brother Dear”, we see Greg as a very interesting and uniquely ideal-minded person. Greg’s identity is composed of his actions as well as his appearance and demeanour. In the story we see that Greg visits his family to talk and later inform them of his leave in university to start a new life. From this information we see that Greg is an ideal individual who wants to live a simple honest life that makes him happy. I can connect with Greg in some ways relating to that I myself want to find my own inner truth, and find my own happiness in life. Like Greg, I would someday hope to find peaceful means of living, and live life the way I intend to.

Bernice Friesen shows how people are transformed through their relationships with others by telling the story of Sharlene, in “Brother Dear”. Sharlene’s encounter with her brother Greg and the actions which Greg took, inspired her to find her own purpose in her life and live her life according her way. From this, we can conclude that Greg’s identity in “Brother Dear” is also a part of an identity that we all have as individuals.