Slaughterhouse-Five Post

My big question is: in a world where media and other people tend to shape us, how do we define our self and let our true self shine? In Slaughterhouse-Five, the main character Billy defiantly strays from the ordinary and allows his experiences to shape him. He is unique because he claims that aliens abducted him and took him to a planet that does not believe in free will, ignores war, and believes that a person can never die because they are alive in the moments that they lived in. Billy has allowed the alien's ways to define his personality, he is unlike everyone else in that he can time travel and is not necessarily afraid of death. Billy knows when he is going to die, and has experienced it. Billy has encountered many unfortunate events, such as the death of his wife and the happenings at Dresden. So it goes. Although it may be argued that the aliens defined him, I believe that they simply helped Billy find his true self and understanding. We never do know, though, if the alien abduction is meant to be true, or if it is simply a part of Billy's imagination. Either way, it has allowed Billy to separate himself from others, and live in the moments of his life.

Beloved Blog Post

My big blog question is: In a culture where media and other people tend to shape us, how do we define our character and allow our true self to shine? This question applies to Beloved by Toni Morrison, because Sethe allows her past and Beloved to keep her from finding her true, free self. Sethe is a slave to her past, specifically to the ghost of her third child Beloved. Beloved defines Sethe, by keeping her from accepting her past and moving forward. For example, Beloved runs Paul D out of 124. Paul D is a symbol for a hopeful future, and Beloved takes complete control after he is gone. We find though, that near the end of the novel, Sethe’s community helps exercise 124, riding it of Beloved. With Denver’s help, Sethe begins to recover and Paul D returns to assure Sethe that she must love and forgiver herself. This is important because we finally feel that Sethe is free of her past, and can learn to trust and love again. Acceptance of the past or oneself may be the answer to my big blog question. Maybe we can allow our true self to shine after we accept who we are and are ready to move on in a positive direction.

Connecting to The Stranger

My big blog question asks: In a culture where media and other people tend to shape us, how do we define our character and allow our true self to shine? Albert Camus’ The Stranger connects to this question because Meursault, Camus’ main character, allows himself to reject the expectations of society through his hedonistic beliefs and strange attitude. Meursault defines his character by allowing himself to be a pleasure seeker. Although we find Meursault to be odd, his way of life does in fact let him shine. I have been blogging about how we can define ourselves trying to find some answers and so far, Camus’ work has been the most helpful. Though we don’t need to become hedonistic to be true to ourselves, Camus’ displays that living to please ourselves may be the first step to defining our character. When you understand your wants and goals, you can create a lifestyle that permits you to be true to yourself.

Connecting to Crime and Punishment

Dostoevsky’s novel Crime and Punishment, displays the transformation of a seemingly extraordinary character, Raskolnikov. Throughout the book, Raskolnikov fights to settle as an ordinary person. He convinces himself that he is more intelligent and generally better than the average human. Raskolnikov’s attitude may be traced back to my big question: in a culture where media and other people tend to shape us, how do we define our character and allow our true self to shine, by pondering the effects of other characters on Raskolnikov throughout. As Raskolnikov compares himself to a drunk, a greedy pawn broker, and a police man, he convinces himself that he is superior to them. The other characters in the book serve to further display Raskolnikov’s madness by promoting the internal conflict within him. Raskolnikov allows others to shape him into a madman. Although most of the novel focuses on Raskolnikov’s journey to confession, eventually Dostoevsky displays that although others may encourage change in one’s character, they can also bring one back to humanity. At the end of the novel Sonia begins to bring Raskolnikov out of his independent state and illustrates the importance of faith and human passion. If Raskolnikov was given the chance to create a “big question”, he would probably ask: If humans have the opportunity to achieve greatness or become economically successful, why is it that humanity ultimately seeks intangibles such as passion, faith, and love? Raskolnikov would be interested in the answer(s) to this question because throughout Crime and Punishment, he struggles to find true meaning and purpose for himself until the end when he comes to terms with humanity.

Connection to King Lear

Many cannot find their identity today, which is a factor in why so many of us allow others to shape our identities. Not only in the modern world, but also in King Lear's time. King Lear is well aware of who he is, a proud and noble King with three beautiful and caring daughters. When he asks them to state how much they tangibly love him though, he gives away his power and loses his identity. He begins to go mad because who he thought he was, he is no longer. He allows his two power hungry daughters Reagan and Goneril to tear him down and give him a new, less powerful identity. For example, in his madness in act three scene six, Lear imagines his two daughters Regan and Goneril on trial before Edgar, the Fool, Kent, and himself. This displays his want to regain power and his previous identity. While speaking to the Fool of his plans, Lear states, "It shall be done. I will arraign them straight."(p.151) Meaning, Lear will arrange the trail, and set his daughters straight. Today, most people allow others to alter their identity because they don't really know who they are or can't accept themselves. At least Lear knows who he is, and is fighting to get it back, even if it is simply for power.

The picture above shows Lear and the Fool. This is significant because the Fool is one of Lear's only loyal subjects after his identity crisis.