ACT 1
Act 1, Scene 1
1. What is the effect of beginning the play with the witches? Whom are the witches going to meet, and when? Notice the language of lines 10-11 and watch for it later in the play. Beginning the play with witches gives the play an effect of suspense and it can be inferred that evil is a major theme in the play. The witches plan to meet up with Macbeth after the battle has ended.
Act 1, Scene 2
1. What do we learn about and from the "bloody Captain" (1.2.1-44)? Who is Macdonwald and what has he done? What has been done to him and by whom? Did that end the problem with rebels (1.2.29-34)? We learn from the bloody Captain that Macdonwald was an opposing villain and was battling against Macbeth with the help of his men from Ireland and Lady Luck but they were not strong enough. Macbeth managed to kill him and stick his head on their castle walls. But it did not end the problem since the Norwegian king found it as the suitable time to attack with his fresh army. That frightened the brave soldiers Macbeth and Banquo but they just fought with double the force and manages to stay invincible.
2. What do we learn from Ross and Angus (1.2.45-62)? Who was the traitor in this different revolt? What does King Duncan say about the traitor and about his title ( 1.2.63-65)? We learn that the Norwanian army, assisted by the betraying thane Cawder began a bloody battle. But then Macbeth came and matched them shot by shot until they surrendered. King Duncan declares that the traitor Cawder should be executed and that his titles should be granted to Macbeth.
Act 1, Scene 3
1. What is the effect of what the witches tell each other in 1.3.1-27)? What is the effect of the specifics they tell? Are these details important to the plot of the play? Why are they here? What does the First Witch mean by line 9? Keep the line in mind; "do" is an important word in this play. How do the witches prepare for Macbeth's arrival, and what do they say ( 1.3.28-35)? Gives some more suspense to the play since they plan to do evil to a sailor. The specifics they tell show how thought out their plan is. On line 9 when the first witch says, “I’ll do, I’ll do, and I’ll do” she means that she will do several bad things to the sailor. The witches chant a spell to prepare for their meeting with Macbeth.
2. Does Macbeth's first line (1.3.36) remind you of anything we have heard before? What do the witches look like (1.3.37-45)? What do they tell Macbeth ( 1.3.46-48). What happens to Macbeth then? How do we know? (See 1.3.49-55.) What does Banquo ask the witches and what do they tell him (1.3.55-67; notice the paradoxes in 1.3.63-65, similar in structure to 1.1.10-11 and 1.3.36 ). What do we know that Macbeth doesn't know in 1.3.68-76)? The witches are describes as creatures never seen before on earth, Banquo says they look like women but that their beards tell him otherwise. They make the predictions that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland. Banquo also demands to know his own future. Macbeth is then left speechless because Banquo says so. The witches prophesy that Banquo’s descendants will be kings, but he himself will not. What the reader knows and Macbeth doesn’t is that the Thane of Cawdor will be sentenced to death by the King of Scotland and the title will be granted to Macbeth.
3. How does Banquo explain the witches (1.3.77-78)? What does Macbeth learn from Ross and Angus ( 1.3.87-114)? What is Macbeth doing in lines 114-156? Note where he is speaking to himself, where he is speaking only to Banquo, and where he is speaking to everyone. How is Macbeth reacting to what the witches have said and to what Ross and Angus have said? Read Banquo's speech in lines 120-125 carefully for a statement related to the themes of the play. Then read Macbeth's speech at 1.3.126-141 carefully. What is he saying? What is he beginning to think about? Notice an echo of the paradox of "fair is foul" in lines 140-141. Banquo had described the witches as being a bubble that emerged and just disappeared from sight. Macbeth learns from Ross and Angus that he will be granted the title of the thane of Cawdor. Banquos speech states how Macbeth must be careful about believing what the witches had said because they may just be providing only a part of the truth so that Macbeth will then be lead to destruction since they only provide the little parts of the details. During the course of lines 114-156, Macbeth weighs the moral implications of the Witches’ predictions. He is horrified at the thought of killing King Duncan, but resolves to accept whatever has to be. He lies to Banquo about his thoughts.
4. How does Macbeth explain his behavior (1.3.148-149)? How much of his thought does he plan to share with Banquo (1.3.152-154)? Macbeth tells the other men that he had just been distracted. He wants to share his thoughts with Banquo.
Act 1, Scene 4
1. How did Cawdor die (1.4.1-11)? How does the King respond (1.4.11-14)? Keep these lines in mind. Malcolm reports that the Thane of Cawdor died a repentant and dignified death. King Duncan reflects that it is impossible to judge anyone by his or her outward appearance since he had completely trusted Cawdor.
2. How does the King greet Macbeth and Banquo (1.4.14-35 )? Note the imagery of planting and growing. What announcement does the King make in lines 35-42? (Prince of Cumberland is the title of the Scottish heir apparent, like Prince of Wales for the English.) Where does the King intend to go ( 1.4.42-47)? How does he react in his aside to the King's announcement of his heir (1.4.48-53)? What is going on in Macbeth's mind? King Duncan greets Macbeth and Banquo by thanking them so much for their help and contributions. The planting imagery serves to show that Duncan had planted the seeds for a successful career for both. The king then announces that his elder son Malcolm will inherit the throne to the kingdom. The king then says he will visit Macbeth at his house. In Macbeth’s mind, he shows how his desire grows and he is upset that Malcolm is inheriting the throne, since he would be in his way. Macbeth tells his eyes to not see what his hands would do; kill Malcolm.
Act 1, Scene 5
1. Has Macbeth reported accurately to his wife (1.5.1-12)? How does she respond? Read her speech in lines 13-28 carefully. How does she describe Macbeth? Does this match what we have seen of him? Macbeth has told his wife most of everything that has happened. She analyses his nature, fearing that he is too decent and delicate to murder king Duncan for the crown. She describes him as being too kind to be capable of murdering someone to achieve what he wants. Her description does seem to match most of what is said about Macbeth.
2. How does Lady Macbeth respond to the news that the King is coming? Read her speech in lines 36-52 carefully. What does she intend to do? What does she have to do to herself to let that happen? When the Attendant gives news that Macbeth and the king are approaching, she calls on evil spirits to assist her murderous plans. She greets Macbeth with thoughts of future greatness. She intends to kill king Duncan so that her husband can become king.
3. Who is in charge when Macbeth arrives (1.5.52-71)? Has Lady Macbeth decided what to do? Has Macbeth? What does she tell him to do, and what will she herself do? Lady Macbeth is in charge when Macbeth arrived. She had decided to murder King Duncan so that Macbeth would become king. She tells Macbeth to just act normal during the time the king stays in the household and to leave the rest of the plan to her. She urges Macbeth to hide his deadly intentions behind some welcoming looks. She will manage the killing of Duncan herself.
4. What is Lady Macbeth's name? (A trick question-it's not in the play. But historical sources tell us her name was Gruoch and that she had a son by a previous marriage, named Lulach. See the Bedford Texts and Contexts edition of Macbeth, p. 128, with no source given there.)
Act 1, Scene 6
1. Read the opening speeches (1.6.1-10) carefully, noting the imagery. How honest is Lady Macbeth's welcome (1.6.10-31)? It is very dishonest. She welcomes Duncan with elaborate courtesy. She speaks of loyalty, obedience and gratefulness for past honors.
Act 1, Scene 7
1. Read Macbeth's soliloquy in 1.7.1-28 carefully. Notice the repetition of "done" in lines 1-2. How ready is Macbeth to kill the King? What is he worried about in lines 1-12? What special rules of hospitality is Macbeth violating (lines 12-16)? What motivation does Macbeth attribute to himself (lines 25-28)? Macbeth thinks a lot and decides that he will not kill Duncan. He is worried that such crime will come back to get him in the future. He is violating the rule that the hostess must protect his guests and not murder them themselves.
2. What is Lady Macbeth complaining about in lines 28-30? What does Macbeth then say, and how does Lady Macbeth reply? Read their discussion in lines 31-82 carefully to see what positions each holds and what means each uses to convince the other? Who is the stronger person in this scene? Lady Macbeth complains to Macbeth that why he had not shown up to the king yet since he had already asked for him. Macbeth then tells his wife that he does not want to kill the king and she replies by calling him a coward. She then tells him of what they can accomplish and that he should not reject the desires that he holds inside of him. The stronger person in this scene is Lady Macbeth since she even convinced Macbeth to carry on their murder. She convinced him so that he will not think of it twice any more.
ACT 2
Act 2, Scene 1
1. What is the purpose of the opening of 2.1 (lines 1-9)? Notice the references to time (lines 1-3), and think about the other references to time so far in the play (1.1.1-5; 1.3.56, 146, and 152; 1.5.8 and 56-62; 1.7.51 and 81). What is the function of the discussion about the witches in 2.1.20-29? The purpose to state the time may be so that the reader can have more understanding of what is happening in the play. The function of the discussion of the witches is to show how Macbeth begins to lie. When Banquo says he has dreamt of the Witches, Macbeth replies with a lie.
2. Read Macbeth's soliloquy in 2.1.33-64 carefully. What is happening to him? How does he explain it? What will he do about it? Notice references to time in line59 and to deeds and done in lines 61-62. Alone, Macbeth hallucinates, thinking he sees a bloodstained dagger. As he moves to murder Duncan, his thoughts are filled with evil images. Macbeth thinks that either his mind is playing with him or his sight fails him. He decides that it is the crime that he is going to make that keeps haunting him and so he will get over with it while his courage has not left.
Act 2, Scene 2
1. What is Lady Macbeth's state of mind in her soliloquy (2.2.1-13)? What has she done? What does she assume Macbeth is now doing? Why didn't she do it (lines 12-13)? Lady Macbeth is exhilarated by alcohol and awaits Macbeth’s return from Duncan’s room. She has drugged Duncan’s bodyguards, but fears that the murder has not been done. But as she hears an owl screech she thinks that Macbeth is just committing the murder. She says she didn’t kill Duncan herself because he reminded her of her own father.
2. What deed has Macbeth done (2.2.14)? What is Macbeth worried about in lines 17-31? How does Lady Macbeth respond (lines 31-32)? Notice the heavy emphasis on the murdering of sleep in lines 33-41. What problem arises in line 46? How is it solved? Keep lines 44-45, 58-61, and 65 about washing in mind for later in the play. Macbeth had just finished killing Duncan. He is worried that some of the guests dreamt of the crime and then prayed. When they prayed and said “God Bless Us” and then “Amen”, Macbeth could not say amen himself even though he also wanted blessing since he really thought he needed some. The problem that arises in line 46 is that Macbeth heard the man dreaming shout out that Macbeth had murdered sleep and that in consequence, Macbeth should not be able to sleep no more. Macbeth was also afraid to go back to the room and leave the daggers there as evidence and smear blood on the guards to blame them. So then Lady Macbeth called him a coward and did it herself.
Act 2, Scene 3
1. What does the porter pretend to be doing? Notice the emphasis on equivocation in this speech and in the following dialogue with Macduff. Equivocation was a doctrine espoused by Jesuits living secretly in England (and in danger of arrest, torture, and death) that allowed them to swear oaths with double meanings in order to preserve their lives while also maintaining their faith but that looked to their opponents very much like lying under oath. Equivocation had recently been much discussed because of the trials surrounding the Gunpowder Plot of November 1605, a Catholic attempt to blow up Parliament while the members and the King were present. Watch how the idea of equivocation functions in the play. Macbeth’s Porter imagines himself keeper of Hell’s gate. He talks about admitting to Hell a greedy farmer, a liar and cheating tailor. He jokes with Macduff about the effects of too much drink.
2. What is the thematic function of Lennox's conversation with Macbeth about the unruly night (lines 50-59). What is the theatrical function of the scene? Why does something need to be here? It gives more insight about the fact that Macbeth may be discovered and will be killed at the end of the play. It makes the audience put more emphasis on what Macbeth will say and how he could ever manage to get himself out of the problem alive.
3. What news does Macduff report at line 59? How do Macbeth and Lady Macbeth respond? What does Macbeth report in lines 103-104 that he did? What do Malcolm and Donalbain decide to do and why (lines 116-121 and 131-142)? Where will they go? What do they seem to expect will happen if they don't leave? Macduff, horror-struck, reveals the murder of Duncan. Macbeth and his wife both act as if they were very shocked something like that had happened in their own house. Malcolm and Donalbain decide to leave because they could also be in danger and are ready to take the throne themselves. They think that they have the most say in that cause and plan to become king themselves since they are sons of the king. They believe that their closest relatives are the most likely to murder them in an attempt to take the throne. They decide to separate to different countries to avoid being murdered themselves.
Act 2, Scene 4
1. What is the function of the dialogue between the Old Man and Ross (lines 1-20)? What do we learn from Macduff about Malcolm and Donalbain? About Macbeth? Where has Macbeth gone? Where will Macduff go? (Macbeth was historically a member of the royal family; his mother and Duncan's mother were sisters, daughters of Duncan's predecessor as king; both Duncan and Macbeth were historically about the same age. Duncan ruled from 1034 to 1040 and Macbeth from 1040 to 1057.) Notice that many of the key words and ideas we have been tracing appear in this scene. Ross and an Old Man talk about the darkness and unnaturalness of events that mirror Duncan’s murder. The sun is obscured, owls kill falcons, and Duncan’s horses eat each other. These strange and terrible disruptions in nature mirror Macbeth’s killing of Duncan. We learn from Macduff that the king’s own sons, Malcolm and Donalbain are the main suspects for the murder since it is thought that they had paid the guards to kill their father and they fled. Macbeth has been elected king, and has gone to Scone to be crowned. Macduff will not go to the crowning ceremony and instead got to Fife.
ACT 3
3.1
1. How does Banquo react to Macbeth's being King ( 3.1.1-10)? What does he suspect has happened to Duncan? Banquo rears that Macbeth has become king by evil means, but he takes heart from the Witches’ prediction for his own descendants. He suspects that Duncan was murdered by Macbeth.
2. What does Macbeth learn from Banquo in lines 19-38? Why does he want to know it? What does he say about Malcolm and Donalbain in lines 31-34? He learns that Banquo will be riding far in the day until he will return at night to make it for the feast of Macbeth. Macbeth wanted to know because he wanted to hear his good advice at the council that day but then decides to postpone it till the next day. Macbeth then mentions that Malcolm and Donalbain are hiding in different countries and are spreading malicious rumours.
3. Read Macbeth's soliloquy in 3.1.49-73 carefully. What is bothering Macbeth? Macbeth broods on his fears that Banquo’s descendants will become kings after him. He feels that he has commited murder and gone against his conscience just for Banquo’s sons to then take the throne.
4. How does Macbeth get the two murderers to agree to kill Banquo? Has he told them the truth about Banquo and himself? What has brought the murderers to be willing to do a deed like this? Macbeth reminds them of an earlier conversation when he told them that Banquo is their enemy. He then taunts the Murderers, urging them to show that theyt are men, not dogs. If they can prove their manhood, Macbeth will help them kill Banquo. The Murderers claim that they are so desperate they’ll do anything.
3.2
1. How much does Macbeth tell Lady Macbeth about his fears? How much does he tell her about what he plans to do? Does she know as much as we know at this point? Macbeth tells his wife most of what he fears. Lady Macbeth even feels troubled. She advises Macbeth not to worry so much on what’s done, but he is still racked by his fears and insecurity. Macbeth even envies the peace of death in sleep that Duncan enjoys. Macbeth tells his wife to pay special regard to Banquo at the banquet. He speaks contemptuously of having to flatter deceitfully. He hints darkly that terrible deed will be performed that night but doesn’t tell her what exactly. At this point we know that the Murderers are supposed to kill Banquo that night which Lady Macbeth doesn’t know yet.
3.3
1. How do the two murderers respond to the third one? How does the third one explain his presence? The First Murderer did not really seem to trust him and so asked him who had told him to join them. So the Third Murderer tells them it was Macbeth who had given him the order. The Second Murderer tells the other that they should not mistrust him since he was given the same orders from Macbeth that they had received.
2. How successful is their mission? It was semi-successful since they managed to kill Banquo but Fleance escaped. It was because one of the murderers thought it was best to turn off the light that they did not see Fleance escape. So they then realized that they had only managed to kill Banquo.
3.4
1. During the banquet, what does Macbeth learn from the First Murderer (3.4.11-31)? How does that affect Macbeth's participation in the banquet? Macbeth welcomes his guests tot eh banquet and mixes with them the First Murderer reports Banquo’s death, but the news of Fleance’s escape disturbs Macbeth and renews his fears. But Macbeth then consoles himself that Fleance is too young to do harm yet.
2. What appears at 3.4.36? Who can see it? What "trick" does it play on Macbeth (3.2.36-46)? How does Macbeth respond? How does Lady Macbeth explain his response to him? To the guests? What does Macbeth find strange ( 3.4.74-82)? What happens to the banquet? The “Ghost of Banquo” appears in the banquet and sits in Macbeth’s place. The sight of Banquo’s Ghost unnerves Macbeth which none but him can see. Lady Macbeth explains to the guests that Macbeth is just having one of his usual hallucinations. In lines 74-82 Macbeth explains that he finds death strange because before people would kill other people and they would just die, now the dead would arise and make the people crazy. After the ghost of Banquo returned again and Macbeth started to get scared again, Lady Macbeth decided to end the Banquet right there.
3. Who is the next problem person mentioned (3.2.127-129 )? How well does Macbeth trust his followers (3.4.130-131)? Where will he go tomorrow and what does he want to find out (3.4.131-134)? How does Lady Macbeth diagnose his infirmity (3.2.140)? The next problem person mentioned is Macduff because Macbeth had ordered him to join the banquet but he did not show up. Macbeth does not really seem to trust the rest of the lords because he has servant spies in each of their households to spy for him. Macbeth decided to visit the Witches the next day to know the rest of his future, swearing that from now on there is no turning back. He will kill anyone standing in his way.
3.5
1. What is Hecate's complaint to the witches? What does she tell them to do? What will happen tomorrow? Where? Hecate rebukes the Witches for speaking to Macbeth without involving her. She bids them meet her the next day at the pet of Acheron, the river in hell to tell Macbeth his destiny. She promises to use magic to ruin the over-confident Macbeth.
3.6
1. Why is Lennox talking in such an indirect way to the other lord? What is Lennox trying to tell him? What might he be trying to learn about him? Lennox comments guardedly and ironically o Macbeth’s guilt as he recounts the killing of Duncan, Bamnquo and the guards. He talks sarcastically of Macbeth so that it can be hinted that he suspects Macbeth was behind it all. He hints at Macbeth’s murderous intentions towards Malcolm, Donalbain and Fleance as well.
2. What has happened to Macduff? Macduff has gone to England to ask King Edwards for help on an army to overthrow Macbeth’s tyranny.
3. What is the function of this scene in the play? This scene brings further foreshadowing that Macbeth will be led to his death. This scene also gives more suspense since the act of war may be put in play. This scene contrasts Macbeth as earlier in the play where he was courageous and full of honor and now a corrupt criminal and tyrant.
ACT 4
4.1
1. How many witches appear in this scene? There were six witches. The Witches prepare to meet Macbeth. They chant as they circle the cauldron, throwing in horrible ingredients to make a sickening brew.
2. What messages does Macbeth get from the witches and their apparitions? Does he feel safe after the first three apparitions? Should he? How does he feel after the fourth, the line of kings? The Witches show their Apparitions. An armed Head warns Macbeth: ‘beware Macduff’. A bloody Child tells him that no naturally born man can harm him. Macbeth, though reassured, swears to kill Macduff. The Third Apparition promises that Macbeth will not be defeated until Birnan Wood comes to Dunsinane. Macbeth demands to know if Banquos descendants will ever take the thrown to the kingdom to the Witches refuse to tell him. The Witches present a possession of eight kings and Banquo. Having presented Banquo’s descendants as kings, the Witches dance, and vanish, to Macbeth’s anger.
3. What does Macbeth learn from Lennox at line 158? What does he plan to do about it? He learns from Lennox that Macduff had fled to England. Hearing of Macduff’s flight, Macbeth resolves to kill every member of Macduff’s family he can catch
4.2
1. What is Lady Macduff's reaction to her husband's departure for England (4.2.1-30). Lady Macduff interprets Macduff’s flight to England as madness, fear, or lack of love for his family.
2. What is the function of the scene between Lady Macduff and her son ( 4.2.30-64)? Macduff’s son teases his mother affectionately. Behind his playful words are glimpses of the dangerous times; traps for the innocent, and widespread treachery. A messenger then arrives to warn of danger.
3. What happens to Lady Macduff and her son? A messenger warns Lady Macduff to flee with her children because terrible danger is near. The Murderers enter, seeking Macduff. They kill his son and pursue Macduff’s wife to murder her off stage.
4.3
1. What do we know at the beginning of the scene that Macduff doesn't know? We know that Macduff’s son and wife have been murdered by Macbeth’s men.
2. What is the main issue between Malcolm and Macduff in the first part of the scene ( 4.3.1-32)? Why might Malcolm be suspicious of Macduff? How does Macduff respond (4.3.32-38)? What changes when Macduff starts to leave at line 35? Malcolm voices his suspicions that Macduff has good reasons to betray him to Macbeth.
Malcolm’s suspicions about Macduff:
He is not sure that Macduff is telling the truth (line 11)
Macbeth was once thought to be honest (line12-13)
Macduff was a friend of Macbeth (line 13)
Macbeth has left Macduff unharmed (line 14)
Macduff may betray Malcolm to Macbeth (line 14-15)
Macbeth is a traitor (line 18)
Even a good man may obery a wicked king (lines 19-20)
Macduff has abruptly left his family behind in danger (lines 26-8)
Maldolm has cause to be suspicious for his own safety (lines 29-30)
Macduff responds by saying that he is not a treacherous man.
3. What does Malcolm say about himself, and how does Macduff respond (lines 38-115)? What bothers Macduff more in a king, lust or avarice? Why does this character of Malcolm's surprise Macduff (lines 106-112)? (Malcolm's mother was the daughter of the Old Siward mentioned in line 135, which might explain why he is helping. The description of his mother sounds more like St. Margaret of Scotland, who in fact was later this Malcolm's wife.) Malcolm tells Macduff that he has English troops to support his cause, but that his own vices are far worse than Macbeth’s. Malcolm lists Macbeth’s vices, but claims that his won sexual desire is limitless, and he is infinitely greedy. Macduff finds reason to excuse Malcolm’s ungovernable lust and greed.
4. How does this threat to leave by Macduff change Malcolm's story? What is Malcolm's explanation for his behavior (lines 115-133)? What was Malcolm about to do when Macduff arrived (lines 134-138)? Malcolm says that Macduff’s reaction has removed his suspicions so he then denies all the false vices he had told him and tells him the truth. He says that Siward had prepared men for battle with Macbeth and that he is now ready to battle along with Macduff.
5. What is the purpose of the discussion of King Edward's healing powers? How does this compare to the present King of Scotland in the play? Note lines 155-157: King James, who was from Scotland and who as a Stuart was considered one of those descendants of Banquo, had recently revived this practice when the play was written, which gives another reason for including it in the play. The Doctor tells how King Edward cures sick people by his touch. Malcolm says the gift of healing is passed down to future kings.
6. What message does Ross bring? How long does it take for him to tell it? How does Macduff respond? Note lines 214-217: Who "has no children"? We assume he means Macbeth, but could he mean Malcolm, who is perhaps too hasty in telling him to "Be comforted"? Notice the mentions of "man" in lines 221-223 and 237 and compare the use of the word earlier in the play (as at 1.7.46-51 abd 72-74; 3.1.92-102; and 3.4.57, 72, 98, and 107). What does it mean to be a "man" in this play? Ross reports that in Scotland suffering goes unremarked and good men’s lives are short. He also les to Macduff and tells him his family was well. He then reports that Rebellion against Macbeth is rumored. But then Ross does tell Macduff of the murder of his family. Malcolm tries to comfort Macduff, who struggles with his grief over the slaughter of his wife and children. Macduff cannot hide his grief. He feels that he is to blame for his family’s death. He vows vengeance on Macbeth.
7. What are Malcolm, Macduff, and Ross ready to do at the end of the scene? Malcolm declares that the time is repe to overthrow Macbeth, as Heaven itself is against him.
ACT 5
5.1
1. What has the gentlewoman seen Lady Macbeth do (5.1.1-15)? Why won't she tell the Doctor what Lady Macbeth said? The Gentlewoman reports to the Doctor that she has seen Lady Macbeth sleepwalking. She refuses to tell what her mistress has said in her sleep because no one other than her has witnessed it and so would not be believable.
2. What does Lady Macbeth reveal in her sleepwalking speeches and actions (5.1.23-58)? To what does the Doctor relate this in 5.1.61-69? What is he suggesting in lines 66-67? Lady Macbeth, fast asleep, tries to wash imagined blood from her hands. Her fragmented language echoes her own and Macbeth’s words about past murders: Duncan, Lady Macduff, and Banquo. The doctor says that it is beyond his medical skills, but that he has known people who sleepwalk and were not guilty of anything. The doctor then says that people with guilty and deranged minds will confess their secrets to their pillows as they sleep. She suggests the Gentlewoman that she should look after her and remove anything that she can hurt herself with.
5.2
1. Where are the soldiers heading in 5.2? Whose side are they on? What do the mentions of Birnam Wood (line 5) and Dunsinane (line 12) remind us of? Malcolm, Macduff, Siward and the English army approach; young men flock to join them; Macbeth is troubled by internal revold – his soldiers obey him only out of fear, and his conscience oppresses him.
5.3
1. What reports are the servants bringing to Macbeth (5.3.1)? Why does Macbeth say he is not afraid? What does he think about himself in lines 20-29? They bring reports that the Thanes like Lennox, Angus, Menteith, and Caithness have opposed him and will join Malcolm’s side. Macbeth, receiving news of desertions from his army, recalls the Witches’ predictions that no man born from a woman can defeat him and only Birnan Wood can defeat him. He is says he is not afraid because he thinks he cannot be beaten. He even rages at the soldier who tells of Malcolm’s approach. Macbeth knows that the coming battle will make or break him apart. In lines 20-29 he says that he has lived long enough, that his life looks like it is slowly about to end. He knows that he will not have a death like one of an old man accompanied with honor, love, obedience, or troops of friends, but instead have people that lie about honoring him, which he would gladly kill but can’t get himself to kill them.
2. What does the Doctor say about Lady Macbeth (lines 39-46)? What does Macbeth wish the Doctor could do (lines 52-58)? The doctor says that his wife is not Lady Macbeth is not sick but that she is troubled with endless visions that keep her from sleeping. Macbeth wishes the Docter could cure his wife with some drug that could erase her memory but the Doctor says he cannot cure mental disorders since the patient must be cured by herself.
5.4
1. What does Malcolm tell the soldiers to do (5.4.4-7)? What effect do you expect this to have on Macbeth? Malcolm orders the army to use branches from Birnan Wood to camouflage their approach to Dunsinane where Macbeth is, so that his soldiers will give inaccurate counting of the troops approaching. This can have a great effect on Macbeth since the witches told him he would be defeated when Birnan Wood will attack Dunsinane.
5.5
1. What does "the cry of women" signify ( 5.5.7.1, 15)? Read Macbeth's famous speech in lines 16-27 carefully. What is he saying? How does he feel about life at this point? The sound of women mourning prompts Macbeth to reflect that he has lost almost all sense of fear. Once, an owl’s shriek or a horror story would make his blood run cold and his hair stand on end. Now he can no longer be frightened. Syton brings news of Lady Macbeth’s death. His wife’s death sets Macbeth menacing on life’s pointlessness.
2. What news does the messenger bring in lines 28-33? How does Macbeth react to this news? What does he now think of the witches (lines 40-46)? (Notice the return of "equivocation" in line 41.) Yet what is his mood at the end of the scene (lines 49-50)? Will he go out with a whimper? The messenger tells Macbeth that Bbirnan Wood is moving towards Dunsinane. Macbeth doubts the Apparition’s ambiguous words and tells the messenger he will punish him if he is lying. He determines to die fighting.
5.6
1. What do we learn in this scene? Why are Siward and his son mentioned? Malcolm instructs his troops to throw aside their camouflage of branches. He issues orders for battle. We learn that Siward is Malcolm’s uncles and that his son is his cousin. Siward will lead the first battle.
5.7
1. What is Macbeth's attitude at the beginning of the scene (lines 1-4)? What happens in his encounter with Young Siward? Macbeth compares himself to a baited bear. He says he will only be afraid of the man that was not born from a woman. He is challenged by Young Siward, Macbeth kills him and boasts that no man born of woman can kill him. Macduff refuses to fight with mercenaries and seeks only Macbeth. Siward invites Malcolm to enter Macbeth’s surrendered castle.
5.8 (5.7 continues in most editions)
1. Who is Macduff looking for and why (lines 1-10)? Macduff is looking for Macbeth to kill him. Fracing Macduff, Macbeth boastst that no naturally born man can kill him, but Macduff reveals his own Caesarean birth. Dismayed, Macbeth refuses to fight. Macduff threatens that he will be exhibited in captivity. Macbeth then determines to go down fighting, and is killed.
5.9 (5.7 continues in most editions)1. How is it that Malcolm and Siward are able to enter the castle so easily (lines 1-6)? It was because there were very light casualties of their side. On being told that his son is dead, Siward’s concern is to know if Young Siward died bravely.
5.10 (5.8 in most editions)1. What unwished-for information does Macduff have for Macbeth (lines 1-16)? How does Macbeth respond? What will happen if he doesn't fight? Why does he fight? Macduff reveals his own Caesarean birth, which means that he was not naturally born. Macbeth curses at Macduff for telling him that information which had thrown away his courage, and so decides not to fight him. Macduff tells him that if he does not fight, he will be displayed in a freak show as how deformed animals are and his picture would have a sign that said, “Come see the tyrant”. Macbeth chooses to die fighting because he cannot bvear the thought of being subservient to Malcolm and exhibited like a fairground show.
5.11 (5.8 continues in most editions)1. How upset is Siward at his son's death? Why? On being told that his son is dead, Siward’s concern is to know if Yound Siward died bravely, he then says that God should be with him.
2. What does Malcolm promise his followers (lines 26-41)? What does he tell us about Lady Macbeth's death (line 36-37)? Should we believe him? (He is her enemy, after all-but remember the Doctor's instructions in 5.1.66-67.) Macduff displays Macbeth’s severed head, and hails Malcolm as King of Scotland. Malcolm rewards his nobles for their services, creating them the first earls of Scotland. He then says that Lady Macbeth had commited suicide. It is hard to believe him since he was not there when it happened. He then invites everyone to his coronation at Scone.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Friday, December 7, 2007
Things Fall Apart
Chapter 1
Okonkwo was tall and huge, and his bushy eyebrows and wide nose gave him a very severe look. Okonkwo was known for his various achievements, especially in wrestling. He hated the fact that his father was a failure and so tried to do everything the opposite of his father so that nobody would see a resemblance. He had slight stammer and whenever he was angry and could not get his words out quickly enough, he used his fists, and he had no patience with unsuccessful men. He had no patience with his father. The kola nut is only mentioned to be served on a disk and has to be broken by the guest as an honor. It is probably not explained in detail because Achebe wants the readers to discover the customs themselves. The titles in the village signified success because the more titles a man had, the more successful and wealthy they were likely to be, just like Okonkwo.
Chapter 2
Darkness held a vague terror for these people, even the bravest among them. Children were warned not to whistle at night for fear of evil spirits. A snake was never called by its name at night, because it would hear. It was called a string. The conflict with Mbaino was started because they had murdered a daughter of Umuofia. They decided that Okonkwo should go and receive the young lad of fifteen (Ikemefuna) and a virgin as a peaceful settlement to avoid war. The purpose was to sacrifice a man of the opposing village. Okonkwo overcompensates his father’s weaknesses by being very tough and trying to be the opposite of him. He is unusual according to his culture because he would rather work on his farm rather than celebrate in the festivals. He also broke a law in the week of peace. Okonkwo feels that men have to be very dominant over women. He dislikes Nwoye because he believes he is too weak.
Chapter 3
The priestess of Agbala symbolizes the power of women. Awareness of rank is observed in the drinking of the palm wine as the men with the most titles drink it first. Share-cropping is when someone gives seeds or land to someone else to plant and part of the profit is then given the that person. Women are the ones who truly celebrated the festival of the yams.
Chapter 4
Okonkwo’s virtue was that he had risen so suddenly from great poverty and misfortune to be one of the lords of the clan. Most people were struck by Okonkwo’s brusqueness in dealing with less successful men. At early age he had achieved fame s the greatest wrestler in all the land. It is said it was not luck but that his chi or personal god was good. But the Ibo people have a proverb that when a man says his chi says yes also. Okonkwo said yes very strongly’ so his chi agreed. Okonkwo was in charge of Ikemefuna and the boy feared him. But he later became popular in Okonkwo’s household, especially with the children. Even Okonkwo himself became very fond of the boy but only inwardly. Okonkwo broke the peace in the Week of Peace and so was punished, as was the custom, by Ezeani, the priest of the earth goddess. This shows that no matter how successful or powerful a man is, the laws are still directed to him as well. Some of the customs changed of over time because Ogbuefi Ezeudu said that the punishment for breaking the Peace of Ani had become very mild in their clan. Also that people who died during this time was not buried but cast into the Evil Forest.
Chapter 5
Okonkwo felt that the feasts were for women because of fertility. Somehow Okonkwo could never become as enthusiastic over feasts as most people. It is ironic that in a female fest, Okonkwo beats his second wife and nearly shot her when she tried to escape. Ekwefy was Okonkwo’s second wife and was married with someone else until she decided to run away to Okonkwo. She likes wrestling because that was what attracted her to Okonkwo. But she is often beaten by her husband too. She is considered a rebel because she tried to run away from Okonkwo when he pointed his gun at her.
Chapter 6
Chielo was the priestess of Agbala, the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves. In ordinary life Chielo was a widow with two children. Anyone seeing Chielo in ordinary life would hardly believe she was the same person who prophesized when the spirit of Agbala was upon her. She plays a pivotal role in their culture because it is ironic how she is the priestess of Agbala in a man-ruled culture. In this culture, man is believed to be superior and Chielo is the prophet of a goddess.
Chapter 7
Nwoye was pleased when he was sent by his mother or another of his father’s wives to do difficult and masculine tasks in the home, like splitting wood, or pounding food. Okonkwo was inwardly pleased at his son’s development, and he knew it was due to Ikemefuna. Okonkwo wanted Nwoye to grow tough and capable of ruling his household when he was dead and gone to join the ancestors. He wanted his son to be a prosperous man, having enough in his barn to feed the ancestors with regular sacrifices. Also wanted him to be able to control his women-folk. Also wanted him to hear his “masculine stories of violence and bloodshed” instead of the stories he heard from his mother. When the locusts were descending on the village, everyone got very excited and joyful. Many people went out with baskets trying to catch them, but they had to wait until nightfall. Everyone filled his bags and pots with locusts and the next morning; they were roasted in clay pots and then spread in the sun until they became dry and brittle. And for maydays this rare food was eaten with solid palm-oil. Okonkwo is asked not to take part in the killing of Ikemefuna because he was like a dad to him. The y had to kill him because the Oracle of the Hills and Caves had pronounced it. Odondwo probably finished killing Ikemefuna because he wanted to get over with it quickly. He also probably did not want to appear weak to the other men.
Chapter 8
Okonkwo’s attitude toward Enzinma was that he wished she was a boy since he thought she could have been a better son than Nwoye. It may depend on how it is viewed to judge if the custom of the bridegroom’s family paying the substantial wealth in cash or goods for the privileged of marrying a young woman. It may tend to make women more valuable since the man’s family has to do everything for her, but it can also mean that women are inferior to men and so the man’s family has to do everything. Young women may have started to marry on their teens because at that time they are capable of getting pregnant. The white man was introduced by comparing him to a chalk since it is also white. They also said that they heard white men had not toes, since a white man named Amadi was a leper.
Chapter 9
Enzinma was an only child and the center of Ekwefi’s world. Very often it was Enzinma who decided what food her mother should prepare. Ekwefi even gave her such delicacies as eggs, which children were rarely allowed to eat because such food tempts them to steal. The treatment of the obanje signifies a superstition toward children, believing some are born with an evil spirit. This can mean that children are viewed as little devils.
Chapter 10
The egwugwu ceremony was one in which the spirits of the ancestors would arise. There was nine and each represented a village of the clan. Women fled as soon as the egwugwu cam in sight. The women have some suspicions that it might even be their husbands that pretend to be the spirits but don’t say anything because they are prohibited from doing so. The main function of the ceremony was to keep order in the villages. It was some sort of court. Evil Forest refutes the argument of Uzowulu by stating the fact his wife couldn’t of been unfaithful because no kind of man would sleep with a pregnant woman. In this problem, it was the brothers of Mgbafo (the wife) beat Uzowulu up and took their sister back home with them. Family involvement in marriage man be good to check on the couple and try to fix any problems. But it could also become bad because some families force their siblings to marry someone by force just because of some interest.
Chapter 11
The moral of the fable of the tortoise may be to teach the kids that in their culture cheating and lying or taking advantage of people by outsmarting them are not permitted. It may be a foreshadow that the missionaries are going to attempt to take everything in the village just as the tortoise but everyone will unite to take them out like the birds. The incident with the priestess of Agbala taking Enzinma with her shows how sometimes the people do not wish to obey the laws, even if it comes from a god. Ekwefi was warned by the priestess that she should not follow or she would experience the wrath of Agbala but Enzinma overcomes the fear of divine and decides to follow her anyway.
Chapter 12
Everybody was invited to the uri of a daughter of Obierika, who was Okonkwo’s friend. The bride’s mother was o do her difficult but happy task of cooking for a whole village with the help of Obierika’s compound. A lot of relatives arrived and expected to have a good time. Especially the men, who were anxious to drink the palm wine. All the relatives were in charge that the celebration would not go wrong – the y counted the pots of palm wine as they were brought in. When the women retired, Obierika presented kola nuts to his in-laws. His elder brother broke the first one. “Life to all of us,” he said as he broke it. “And let there be friendship between your family and ours.”
Chapter 13
The one-handed egwugwu carrying a basket full of water appeared as the people were performing the ritual. H calls on the dead Ezeudu and tells him “If you had been poor in your last life I would have asked you to be rich when you come again. But you were rich. If you had been a coward, I would have asked you to bring courage. But you were a fearless warrior. If you had died young, I would have asked you to get life. But you lived long. So I shall ask you to come again the way you came before. If you death was the death of nature, go in peace. But if a man cause it, do not allow him a moment’s rest” This seems to portray an act of revenge. When Okonkwo accidentally shot the boy in the heart everyone was shocked. Violent deaths were frequent, but nothing like that had ever happened. The only course open to Okonkwo was to flee form the clan because it was a crime against the earth goddess to kill a clansman, and a man who committed it must flee from he land and was allowed to return in seven years because it had been accidental. After he left, his houses were set on fire, his red walls were demolished, and his animals were killed and barn was destroyed. It was to clean the land, which Okonkwo had polluted with the blood of a clansman.
Chapter 14
Part 1 introduces us to the intact and functioning culture in Umuofia. It may have had its faults, and it accommodated deviants like Okonkwo with some difficulty, but it still worked as an organic whole. It is in Part 2 that things begin to fall apart (title of book). Okonkwo’s exile in Mbanta is not only a personal disaster, but it removes him from his home village at a crucial time so that he returns to a changed world which can no longer adapt to him. Okonkwo’s life had been ruled by a great passion –to become one of the lords of the can. That had been his life-spring. And he all but achieved it. Then everything had been broken. He had been cast out of his clan like a “fish onto a dry, sandy beach, panting”. The significance of Okonkwo being compared to a fish out of water may mean that Okonkwo’s possibilities of accomplishing his dream had just ran out of gasp of air and so will die. Note the value placed on premarital chastity in the engagement ceremony. In many African cultures virginity is not an absolute requirement for marriage but it is highly desirable and normally greatly enhances the value of the bride-price that may be paid. Thus families are prone to assert a good deal of authority over their unmarried daughters to prevent early love affairs. The fact that Okonkwo couldn’t answer the questions about women and especially mothers that his uncles Ucnendu asked him probably means that Okonkwo didn’t really consider women as reasonable human beings. His uncle then tells him “A man belongs to his fatherland when things are good and life is sweet. But when there is sorrow and bitterness he finds refuge in his motherland. Your mother is there to protect you. She is buried there. And that is why we say that mother is supreme.” Pg. 134
Chapter 15
Tree white men and a great army of men surrounded the market of Abame. They must have used a powerful “medicine” to make themselves invisible until the market was full. And they began to shoot. Everybody was killed, except the old and the sick who were at home and a handful of men and women whose chi were wide awake and brought them out of that market. Their clan was then completely empty. Event he sacred fish in their mysterious lake had fled and the lake turned the color of blood. A great evil had come upon their land as the Oracle had warned. The villagers referred to the bikes the white men were using as “iron horse”. Although the people of Abame acted rashly, they had a good deal of insight into the significance of the arrival of the whites. Note how the Africans treat the white man’s language as mere noise; a mirror of how white colonizers treated African languages. Okonkwo had heard stories about white men who made the powerful guns and the strong drinks and took slaves away across the seas, but no one had thought the stories were true. In the final exchange with Okonkwo Obierika is good-naturedly refusing to accept Okonkwo’s thanks by joking with him (told him to kill one of his sons for the favor).
Chapter 16
The British followed a policy in their colonizing efforts of designation local “leaders” to administer the lower levels of their empire. In Africa these were known as “warrant chiefs.” But the man they chose wee often not the real leaders, and the British often assumed the existence of a centralized chieftainship where none existed. Thus the new power structures meshed badly with the old. Similarly the missionaries had designated as their contact man an individual who lacked the status to make his respected by his people. Nwoye probably became a Christian because his father made him feel like an outcast. As a Christian, he felt fore like himself. Note how Achibe inverts the traditional dialect humor of Europeans, which satirizes the inability of natives to speak proper English by having the missionary mangle Ibo. The first act of the missionaries which evokes a positive response in some of the Ibo was when they were fascinated when the missionaries burst into song. It was a story of brothers who lived in darkness and in fear, ignorant of the love of God. It told of now sheep out on the hills, away from the gates of God and from the tender shepherd’s care. Achebe focuses on the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, the notoriously least logical and most paradoxical basic belief in Christianity. The belief undermines the missionaries’ attempt to discredit the traditional religion because it claims that all religions are false except for Christianity. This new religion appeals to Nwoye because the hymn about brothers who sat in darkness and in fear seemed to answer a vague and persistent question that haunted his soul _ the question of the twins crying in the bush and the question of Ikemifuna who was killed. He felt a relief within as the hymn poured into his parched soul.
Chapter 17
The granting of the missionaries of a plot in the Evil Forest backfires because they thought that the missionaries would not accept it and they actually did make use of it to build the church. Every clan and village had its “evil forest.” In it wee buried all those who died of the really evil deseases, like leprosy and small pox. It was also the dumping ground for the potent fetishes of great medicine men when they died. An “evil forest” was, therefore, alive with sinister forces and powers of darkness. The inhabitants of Mbanta expected them to be all dead within four days. They were puzzled when many days and not one had died. Not long, they even got their first conversts. The metaphor in the second to last sentence (Living fire begets cold, impotent ash.) means that imperialism causes the village to become impotent in a sense that they lose they identity and customs. They are also under the mercy of the white men.
Chapter 18
The outcaste osu are introduced in this chapter. Achebe had probably not mentioned them earlier to demonstrate how imperialism and the changing of customs gave great power to the church since they gained support from them. It starts with the outcastes being converted first and from then the church just keeps gaining power until it is in control of the whole village. In India the lowest outcastes were among the first to convert to faiths which challenged traditional Hinduism; and something similar happens in the story.
Chapter 19
Traditional Umuofian custom can welcome back a mistaking member (Okonkwo) once he has paid for his crime. In may cultures Okonkwo would be treated as a pariah, but this culture has ways of accommodating such a person without destroying him, and in fact encouraging him to give of his best. The final speaker says that Christianity is a threat in that it turns people from their family. “An abominable religion has settled among you. A man can now leave his father and his brothers. He can curse the gods of his fathers and his ancestors, like a hunter’s dog that suddenly goes mad and turns on his master. I fear for you; I fear for the clan.” Pg. 167
Chapter 20
Okonkwo’s relationship to the newcomers is intensified by the fact that he has a very great deal at stake in maintaining the old ways. All his hopes and dreams are rooted in the continuance of the traditional of the traditional culture. The fact that he has not bee able gradually to accustom himself to the new ways helps to explain his extreme reaction. The missionaries have brought British colonial government with them. The missionaries were often viewed as agents of imperialism. There is a common saying common to Native Americans and Africans alike which goes like this: “Before the white man came, we had the land and they had the Bible. Now we have the Bible and they have the land.” The British courts crashed some of the values of the village because people who had thrown away their twins were imprisoned and also those who had molested the Christians. They were beaten in the prison by the kotma (court messengers) and made to work every morning clearing the government compound and fetching wood for the white Commissioner and the court messengers. Some of the men that were even held as prisoners were even those who had titles, who should be above such mean occupation. They were grieved by the indignity and mourned for their neglected farms.
Chapter 21
Some of the villagers, even those who are not converts to Christianity welcome the British because although they had brought a lunatic religion, the had also built a trading store and for the first time palm-oil and kernel became things of great price, and much money flowed into Umuofia. And even in the matter of religion there was a growing feeling that there might be something in it after all, something vaguely akin to method I the overwhelming madness. It was in part of Mr. Brown convincing people that the religion got more power. After many people came to learn in his school, the people of the village began to change their mind about it since Brown’s school produced quick results. A few months in it were enough to make one a court messenger or even a court clerk. Those who stayed linger became teachers; and from Umuofia laborers went forth into the Lord’s vineyard. The missionaries try to refute what they consider worship with the simplistic argument that the animist gods are only wooden idols; however the villagers are perfectly aware that the idol is no the god in a literal sense, any more that eh sculpture of Christ on the cross in a Christian church is God. This sort of oversimplification was a constant theme of Christian arguments against traditional faiths throughout the world as the British assumed that the natives were fools pursuing childish beliefs who needed only a little enlightenment to be converted. Mr. Brown here learns better. It is worth noting that Achebe, like his fellow writer Wole Soyinka, was raised a Christian; but both rejected the faith and have preferred to affirm certain aspects of traditional beliefs in their own lives. Akunna shrewdly senses that the head of the Church is in England rather than in heaven. Note how the phrase “falling apart” is in the last sentence of the chapter.
Chapter 22
Reverend James Smith condemned openly Mr. Brown’s policy of compromise and accommodation. He saw things as black and white. And black was evil. He saw the world as a battlefield in which the children of light were locked in mortal conflict with the sons of darkness. Caused some controversy because he saw many of the of the traditional things that the people did as being very bad, like mutilating children that are thought to be possessed by the obanje. At the end of the chapter, the egwugwu spirits burn down the church that Mr. Brown had built.
Chapter 23
The commissioner claims that they wanted the clan of the village to cooperate because they had brought a peaceful administration to all of them so that they would be happy. If any man mistreated another, they would help. He says that the actions of molesting the messengers must not happen in the dominion of his queen, the most powerful ruler in the world. It can be inferred that the commissioner says that the motive of the British to colonize the Africans was to “civilize” them.
Chapter 24
Once again Okonkwo uses his machete rashly, bringing disaster to his head, killing a missionary by cutting his head off. But he could be viewed as a deviant hero defending his people’s way of life. Okonkwo used his machete once the white missionary said “The white man whose power you know too well has ordered this meeting to stop”. This could be viewed as heroic in the sense that he would not give in to the missionaries’ dominance. But it was not seen like that in his clan. Okonkwo knew right away that Umuofia would not go to war against the missionaries because they had let the other messengers escape. They had broken into tumult instead of action. He heard voices asking: “Why did he do it?” so he then just went away.
Chapter 25
Okonkwo probably killed himself because he knew that Umuofia would not have war with the imperialists. He saw everyone as being turned to cowards compared to the time in which there were great warriors like him. He could not take the fact that his clan had refused to save themselves from the domination of the imperialists by engaging battle. He had lost hope in life and knew that he would never be able to become a successful man in a new world in which titles do not mean much anymore.
Okonkwo was tall and huge, and his bushy eyebrows and wide nose gave him a very severe look. Okonkwo was known for his various achievements, especially in wrestling. He hated the fact that his father was a failure and so tried to do everything the opposite of his father so that nobody would see a resemblance. He had slight stammer and whenever he was angry and could not get his words out quickly enough, he used his fists, and he had no patience with unsuccessful men. He had no patience with his father. The kola nut is only mentioned to be served on a disk and has to be broken by the guest as an honor. It is probably not explained in detail because Achebe wants the readers to discover the customs themselves. The titles in the village signified success because the more titles a man had, the more successful and wealthy they were likely to be, just like Okonkwo.
Chapter 2
Darkness held a vague terror for these people, even the bravest among them. Children were warned not to whistle at night for fear of evil spirits. A snake was never called by its name at night, because it would hear. It was called a string. The conflict with Mbaino was started because they had murdered a daughter of Umuofia. They decided that Okonkwo should go and receive the young lad of fifteen (Ikemefuna) and a virgin as a peaceful settlement to avoid war. The purpose was to sacrifice a man of the opposing village. Okonkwo overcompensates his father’s weaknesses by being very tough and trying to be the opposite of him. He is unusual according to his culture because he would rather work on his farm rather than celebrate in the festivals. He also broke a law in the week of peace. Okonkwo feels that men have to be very dominant over women. He dislikes Nwoye because he believes he is too weak.
Chapter 3
The priestess of Agbala symbolizes the power of women. Awareness of rank is observed in the drinking of the palm wine as the men with the most titles drink it first. Share-cropping is when someone gives seeds or land to someone else to plant and part of the profit is then given the that person. Women are the ones who truly celebrated the festival of the yams.
Chapter 4
Okonkwo’s virtue was that he had risen so suddenly from great poverty and misfortune to be one of the lords of the clan. Most people were struck by Okonkwo’s brusqueness in dealing with less successful men. At early age he had achieved fame s the greatest wrestler in all the land. It is said it was not luck but that his chi or personal god was good. But the Ibo people have a proverb that when a man says his chi says yes also. Okonkwo said yes very strongly’ so his chi agreed. Okonkwo was in charge of Ikemefuna and the boy feared him. But he later became popular in Okonkwo’s household, especially with the children. Even Okonkwo himself became very fond of the boy but only inwardly. Okonkwo broke the peace in the Week of Peace and so was punished, as was the custom, by Ezeani, the priest of the earth goddess. This shows that no matter how successful or powerful a man is, the laws are still directed to him as well. Some of the customs changed of over time because Ogbuefi Ezeudu said that the punishment for breaking the Peace of Ani had become very mild in their clan. Also that people who died during this time was not buried but cast into the Evil Forest.
Chapter 5
Okonkwo felt that the feasts were for women because of fertility. Somehow Okonkwo could never become as enthusiastic over feasts as most people. It is ironic that in a female fest, Okonkwo beats his second wife and nearly shot her when she tried to escape. Ekwefy was Okonkwo’s second wife and was married with someone else until she decided to run away to Okonkwo. She likes wrestling because that was what attracted her to Okonkwo. But she is often beaten by her husband too. She is considered a rebel because she tried to run away from Okonkwo when he pointed his gun at her.
Chapter 6
Chielo was the priestess of Agbala, the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves. In ordinary life Chielo was a widow with two children. Anyone seeing Chielo in ordinary life would hardly believe she was the same person who prophesized when the spirit of Agbala was upon her. She plays a pivotal role in their culture because it is ironic how she is the priestess of Agbala in a man-ruled culture. In this culture, man is believed to be superior and Chielo is the prophet of a goddess.
Chapter 7
Nwoye was pleased when he was sent by his mother or another of his father’s wives to do difficult and masculine tasks in the home, like splitting wood, or pounding food. Okonkwo was inwardly pleased at his son’s development, and he knew it was due to Ikemefuna. Okonkwo wanted Nwoye to grow tough and capable of ruling his household when he was dead and gone to join the ancestors. He wanted his son to be a prosperous man, having enough in his barn to feed the ancestors with regular sacrifices. Also wanted him to be able to control his women-folk. Also wanted him to hear his “masculine stories of violence and bloodshed” instead of the stories he heard from his mother. When the locusts were descending on the village, everyone got very excited and joyful. Many people went out with baskets trying to catch them, but they had to wait until nightfall. Everyone filled his bags and pots with locusts and the next morning; they were roasted in clay pots and then spread in the sun until they became dry and brittle. And for maydays this rare food was eaten with solid palm-oil. Okonkwo is asked not to take part in the killing of Ikemefuna because he was like a dad to him. The y had to kill him because the Oracle of the Hills and Caves had pronounced it. Odondwo probably finished killing Ikemefuna because he wanted to get over with it quickly. He also probably did not want to appear weak to the other men.
Chapter 8
Okonkwo’s attitude toward Enzinma was that he wished she was a boy since he thought she could have been a better son than Nwoye. It may depend on how it is viewed to judge if the custom of the bridegroom’s family paying the substantial wealth in cash or goods for the privileged of marrying a young woman. It may tend to make women more valuable since the man’s family has to do everything for her, but it can also mean that women are inferior to men and so the man’s family has to do everything. Young women may have started to marry on their teens because at that time they are capable of getting pregnant. The white man was introduced by comparing him to a chalk since it is also white. They also said that they heard white men had not toes, since a white man named Amadi was a leper.
Chapter 9
Enzinma was an only child and the center of Ekwefi’s world. Very often it was Enzinma who decided what food her mother should prepare. Ekwefi even gave her such delicacies as eggs, which children were rarely allowed to eat because such food tempts them to steal. The treatment of the obanje signifies a superstition toward children, believing some are born with an evil spirit. This can mean that children are viewed as little devils.
Chapter 10
The egwugwu ceremony was one in which the spirits of the ancestors would arise. There was nine and each represented a village of the clan. Women fled as soon as the egwugwu cam in sight. The women have some suspicions that it might even be their husbands that pretend to be the spirits but don’t say anything because they are prohibited from doing so. The main function of the ceremony was to keep order in the villages. It was some sort of court. Evil Forest refutes the argument of Uzowulu by stating the fact his wife couldn’t of been unfaithful because no kind of man would sleep with a pregnant woman. In this problem, it was the brothers of Mgbafo (the wife) beat Uzowulu up and took their sister back home with them. Family involvement in marriage man be good to check on the couple and try to fix any problems. But it could also become bad because some families force their siblings to marry someone by force just because of some interest.
Chapter 11
The moral of the fable of the tortoise may be to teach the kids that in their culture cheating and lying or taking advantage of people by outsmarting them are not permitted. It may be a foreshadow that the missionaries are going to attempt to take everything in the village just as the tortoise but everyone will unite to take them out like the birds. The incident with the priestess of Agbala taking Enzinma with her shows how sometimes the people do not wish to obey the laws, even if it comes from a god. Ekwefi was warned by the priestess that she should not follow or she would experience the wrath of Agbala but Enzinma overcomes the fear of divine and decides to follow her anyway.
Chapter 12
Everybody was invited to the uri of a daughter of Obierika, who was Okonkwo’s friend. The bride’s mother was o do her difficult but happy task of cooking for a whole village with the help of Obierika’s compound. A lot of relatives arrived and expected to have a good time. Especially the men, who were anxious to drink the palm wine. All the relatives were in charge that the celebration would not go wrong – the y counted the pots of palm wine as they were brought in. When the women retired, Obierika presented kola nuts to his in-laws. His elder brother broke the first one. “Life to all of us,” he said as he broke it. “And let there be friendship between your family and ours.”
Chapter 13
The one-handed egwugwu carrying a basket full of water appeared as the people were performing the ritual. H calls on the dead Ezeudu and tells him “If you had been poor in your last life I would have asked you to be rich when you come again. But you were rich. If you had been a coward, I would have asked you to bring courage. But you were a fearless warrior. If you had died young, I would have asked you to get life. But you lived long. So I shall ask you to come again the way you came before. If you death was the death of nature, go in peace. But if a man cause it, do not allow him a moment’s rest” This seems to portray an act of revenge. When Okonkwo accidentally shot the boy in the heart everyone was shocked. Violent deaths were frequent, but nothing like that had ever happened. The only course open to Okonkwo was to flee form the clan because it was a crime against the earth goddess to kill a clansman, and a man who committed it must flee from he land and was allowed to return in seven years because it had been accidental. After he left, his houses were set on fire, his red walls were demolished, and his animals were killed and barn was destroyed. It was to clean the land, which Okonkwo had polluted with the blood of a clansman.
Chapter 14
Part 1 introduces us to the intact and functioning culture in Umuofia. It may have had its faults, and it accommodated deviants like Okonkwo with some difficulty, but it still worked as an organic whole. It is in Part 2 that things begin to fall apart (title of book). Okonkwo’s exile in Mbanta is not only a personal disaster, but it removes him from his home village at a crucial time so that he returns to a changed world which can no longer adapt to him. Okonkwo’s life had been ruled by a great passion –to become one of the lords of the can. That had been his life-spring. And he all but achieved it. Then everything had been broken. He had been cast out of his clan like a “fish onto a dry, sandy beach, panting”. The significance of Okonkwo being compared to a fish out of water may mean that Okonkwo’s possibilities of accomplishing his dream had just ran out of gasp of air and so will die. Note the value placed on premarital chastity in the engagement ceremony. In many African cultures virginity is not an absolute requirement for marriage but it is highly desirable and normally greatly enhances the value of the bride-price that may be paid. Thus families are prone to assert a good deal of authority over their unmarried daughters to prevent early love affairs. The fact that Okonkwo couldn’t answer the questions about women and especially mothers that his uncles Ucnendu asked him probably means that Okonkwo didn’t really consider women as reasonable human beings. His uncle then tells him “A man belongs to his fatherland when things are good and life is sweet. But when there is sorrow and bitterness he finds refuge in his motherland. Your mother is there to protect you. She is buried there. And that is why we say that mother is supreme.” Pg. 134
Chapter 15
Tree white men and a great army of men surrounded the market of Abame. They must have used a powerful “medicine” to make themselves invisible until the market was full. And they began to shoot. Everybody was killed, except the old and the sick who were at home and a handful of men and women whose chi were wide awake and brought them out of that market. Their clan was then completely empty. Event he sacred fish in their mysterious lake had fled and the lake turned the color of blood. A great evil had come upon their land as the Oracle had warned. The villagers referred to the bikes the white men were using as “iron horse”. Although the people of Abame acted rashly, they had a good deal of insight into the significance of the arrival of the whites. Note how the Africans treat the white man’s language as mere noise; a mirror of how white colonizers treated African languages. Okonkwo had heard stories about white men who made the powerful guns and the strong drinks and took slaves away across the seas, but no one had thought the stories were true. In the final exchange with Okonkwo Obierika is good-naturedly refusing to accept Okonkwo’s thanks by joking with him (told him to kill one of his sons for the favor).
Chapter 16
The British followed a policy in their colonizing efforts of designation local “leaders” to administer the lower levels of their empire. In Africa these were known as “warrant chiefs.” But the man they chose wee often not the real leaders, and the British often assumed the existence of a centralized chieftainship where none existed. Thus the new power structures meshed badly with the old. Similarly the missionaries had designated as their contact man an individual who lacked the status to make his respected by his people. Nwoye probably became a Christian because his father made him feel like an outcast. As a Christian, he felt fore like himself. Note how Achibe inverts the traditional dialect humor of Europeans, which satirizes the inability of natives to speak proper English by having the missionary mangle Ibo. The first act of the missionaries which evokes a positive response in some of the Ibo was when they were fascinated when the missionaries burst into song. It was a story of brothers who lived in darkness and in fear, ignorant of the love of God. It told of now sheep out on the hills, away from the gates of God and from the tender shepherd’s care. Achebe focuses on the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, the notoriously least logical and most paradoxical basic belief in Christianity. The belief undermines the missionaries’ attempt to discredit the traditional religion because it claims that all religions are false except for Christianity. This new religion appeals to Nwoye because the hymn about brothers who sat in darkness and in fear seemed to answer a vague and persistent question that haunted his soul _ the question of the twins crying in the bush and the question of Ikemifuna who was killed. He felt a relief within as the hymn poured into his parched soul.
Chapter 17
The granting of the missionaries of a plot in the Evil Forest backfires because they thought that the missionaries would not accept it and they actually did make use of it to build the church. Every clan and village had its “evil forest.” In it wee buried all those who died of the really evil deseases, like leprosy and small pox. It was also the dumping ground for the potent fetishes of great medicine men when they died. An “evil forest” was, therefore, alive with sinister forces and powers of darkness. The inhabitants of Mbanta expected them to be all dead within four days. They were puzzled when many days and not one had died. Not long, they even got their first conversts. The metaphor in the second to last sentence (Living fire begets cold, impotent ash.) means that imperialism causes the village to become impotent in a sense that they lose they identity and customs. They are also under the mercy of the white men.
Chapter 18
The outcaste osu are introduced in this chapter. Achebe had probably not mentioned them earlier to demonstrate how imperialism and the changing of customs gave great power to the church since they gained support from them. It starts with the outcastes being converted first and from then the church just keeps gaining power until it is in control of the whole village. In India the lowest outcastes were among the first to convert to faiths which challenged traditional Hinduism; and something similar happens in the story.
Chapter 19
Traditional Umuofian custom can welcome back a mistaking member (Okonkwo) once he has paid for his crime. In may cultures Okonkwo would be treated as a pariah, but this culture has ways of accommodating such a person without destroying him, and in fact encouraging him to give of his best. The final speaker says that Christianity is a threat in that it turns people from their family. “An abominable religion has settled among you. A man can now leave his father and his brothers. He can curse the gods of his fathers and his ancestors, like a hunter’s dog that suddenly goes mad and turns on his master. I fear for you; I fear for the clan.” Pg. 167
Chapter 20
Okonkwo’s relationship to the newcomers is intensified by the fact that he has a very great deal at stake in maintaining the old ways. All his hopes and dreams are rooted in the continuance of the traditional of the traditional culture. The fact that he has not bee able gradually to accustom himself to the new ways helps to explain his extreme reaction. The missionaries have brought British colonial government with them. The missionaries were often viewed as agents of imperialism. There is a common saying common to Native Americans and Africans alike which goes like this: “Before the white man came, we had the land and they had the Bible. Now we have the Bible and they have the land.” The British courts crashed some of the values of the village because people who had thrown away their twins were imprisoned and also those who had molested the Christians. They were beaten in the prison by the kotma (court messengers) and made to work every morning clearing the government compound and fetching wood for the white Commissioner and the court messengers. Some of the men that were even held as prisoners were even those who had titles, who should be above such mean occupation. They were grieved by the indignity and mourned for their neglected farms.
Chapter 21
Some of the villagers, even those who are not converts to Christianity welcome the British because although they had brought a lunatic religion, the had also built a trading store and for the first time palm-oil and kernel became things of great price, and much money flowed into Umuofia. And even in the matter of religion there was a growing feeling that there might be something in it after all, something vaguely akin to method I the overwhelming madness. It was in part of Mr. Brown convincing people that the religion got more power. After many people came to learn in his school, the people of the village began to change their mind about it since Brown’s school produced quick results. A few months in it were enough to make one a court messenger or even a court clerk. Those who stayed linger became teachers; and from Umuofia laborers went forth into the Lord’s vineyard. The missionaries try to refute what they consider worship with the simplistic argument that the animist gods are only wooden idols; however the villagers are perfectly aware that the idol is no the god in a literal sense, any more that eh sculpture of Christ on the cross in a Christian church is God. This sort of oversimplification was a constant theme of Christian arguments against traditional faiths throughout the world as the British assumed that the natives were fools pursuing childish beliefs who needed only a little enlightenment to be converted. Mr. Brown here learns better. It is worth noting that Achebe, like his fellow writer Wole Soyinka, was raised a Christian; but both rejected the faith and have preferred to affirm certain aspects of traditional beliefs in their own lives. Akunna shrewdly senses that the head of the Church is in England rather than in heaven. Note how the phrase “falling apart” is in the last sentence of the chapter.
Chapter 22
Reverend James Smith condemned openly Mr. Brown’s policy of compromise and accommodation. He saw things as black and white. And black was evil. He saw the world as a battlefield in which the children of light were locked in mortal conflict with the sons of darkness. Caused some controversy because he saw many of the of the traditional things that the people did as being very bad, like mutilating children that are thought to be possessed by the obanje. At the end of the chapter, the egwugwu spirits burn down the church that Mr. Brown had built.
Chapter 23
The commissioner claims that they wanted the clan of the village to cooperate because they had brought a peaceful administration to all of them so that they would be happy. If any man mistreated another, they would help. He says that the actions of molesting the messengers must not happen in the dominion of his queen, the most powerful ruler in the world. It can be inferred that the commissioner says that the motive of the British to colonize the Africans was to “civilize” them.
Chapter 24
Once again Okonkwo uses his machete rashly, bringing disaster to his head, killing a missionary by cutting his head off. But he could be viewed as a deviant hero defending his people’s way of life. Okonkwo used his machete once the white missionary said “The white man whose power you know too well has ordered this meeting to stop”. This could be viewed as heroic in the sense that he would not give in to the missionaries’ dominance. But it was not seen like that in his clan. Okonkwo knew right away that Umuofia would not go to war against the missionaries because they had let the other messengers escape. They had broken into tumult instead of action. He heard voices asking: “Why did he do it?” so he then just went away.
Chapter 25
Okonkwo probably killed himself because he knew that Umuofia would not have war with the imperialists. He saw everyone as being turned to cowards compared to the time in which there were great warriors like him. He could not take the fact that his clan had refused to save themselves from the domination of the imperialists by engaging battle. He had lost hope in life and knew that he would never be able to become a successful man in a new world in which titles do not mean much anymore.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Heart of Darkness
10/17/2007
A: "Besides holding our hearts together through long periods of separation, it has the effect of making us tolerant of each other's yarns - and even convictions." Pg. 3-4
I: The narrator feels a bond with the sea. There is a connection with nature. There is a sense of peace with the sea. Can infer that the speaker went through some rough things because he says that only the sea made them tolerant of each other's yarn, can mean that they have been involved in something that may of been wrong.
A: "The day was ending in a serenity of still and exquisite brilliance. The water shone pacifically; the sky, without a speck, was a benign immensity of unstained light; the very mist of the Essex marsh was like a gauzy and radiant fabric, hung from the wooden rises inland, and draping the low shores in diaphanous folds." Pg. 4
I: There is more signs of closeness and peace with nature. The way that the author uses imagery to describe a scene has much emphasis on the natural surroundings. The closeness with the sea is also being emphasized, since the men are sailing a boat.
A: "Land in a swamp, march through the woods, and in some inland post feel the savagery, the utter savagery, had closed round him - all that mysterious life of the wilderness that stirs in the forest, in the jungles, in the hearts of wild men." Pg.8
I: The first mentioning of savage nature. The jungle is considered savage according to the men because of the wilderness and because there is no "civilization". Marlow is telling the narrator of the story and other men about his experience when he wanted to discover places around the world and travel around. Marlow's understanding of the jungle and the people is of being savage because he sees the Africans as animals in the wild.
A: "The fascination, too, that goes to work upon him. The fascination of the abomination - you know, imagine growing regrets, the longing to escape, the powerless disgust, the surrender, the hate." Pg.8
I: Marlow recounts the story of how the Roman people were the first to settle in the regions of the wilderness in Africa. He talks about the men's concern, since at this time there was a wild and savage world in which civilized men could not find food and were stricken by disease and death. There is some sort of rising hate toward the wilderness because of its mystery and man's inferiority to it for survival.
A: "The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much." Pg. 9
I: Marlow starts to realize how the European people have discriminated and abused the people that originally live in the wilderness. Their land had been taken away from them and forced labor as a slave was enforced cruelly.
A: "Therefore he whacked the old nigger mercilessly,. . . . Pg. 13
I: Marlow tells the story of how a captain of the company he wanted to work with was killed by black villagers. The quarrel arose from a misunderstanding about some hens. Fresleven, the captain thought himself wronged in the bargain, so he went ashore and started to hammer the chief of the village with a stick. He was supposedly the gentlest, quietest creature that ever walked on two legs but Marlow was not surprised by his action. Fresleven had been engaged in a noble cause for a couple of years and probably felt the need at last of asserting his self-respect in some way. Therefore he whacked the chief while a big crowd of his people watched him thunderstruck, till some man made a tentative jab with a spear at the white man and it went quite easy between the shoulder-blades. This happening may show that no matter how noble a white person may be in this time period, they still felt superior to the black people and so thought they could do what they want.
10/18/07
A: "She talked about 'weaning those ignorant millions from their horrid ways,' till upon my word, she made me quite uncomfortable. I ventured to hint that the Company was run for profit." Pg. 18-19
I: Marlow was talking to the wife of dignitary of the company that was going to hire him. She explained that the labourer is worthy of his hire. The fact that this woman is in the high class gives the clue that she believes in racial and social standards in this time period. Marlow is ignorant of the situation and so says how this company only runs to make profit, no matter what had to be done, in this instance, 'weaning' the natives from their 'horrid' ways.
A: "There was a touch of insanity in the proceeding, a sense of lugubrious drollery in the sight; and it was not dissipated by somebody on board assuring me earnestly there was a camp of natives - he called them enemies! - hidden out of sight somewhere." Pg. 21
I: Marlow tells of when he was sailing and came close to a place where natives live. His ignorance is shown by the way he does not know how racist the other white men are to the natives. He does not really understand the situation. Marlow may be brainwashed to think that he is superior to the natives as well.
10/19/07
A: "A lot of people, mostly black and naked, moved about like ants." Pg. 23
I: Marlow describes the natives as looking like ants. It demonstrates how he himself, although he may not be racist describes what he sees and views the natives as animals instead of human beings.
A: "They passed me within six inches, without a glance, with that complete, deathlike indifference of unhappy savages." Pg. 24
I: Marlow is so ignorant about the natives' feelings that he does not understand that the natives are being abused by people that look like him. It is not that the natives would want to be dis respective, it is that they have been oppresses and abused by the white colonists. Marlow's ignorance about the situation is still apparent.
10/20/07
A: "They were dying slowly - it was clear. they were not enemies, they were not criminals, they were nothing earthy now - nothing by black shadows of decease and starvation, lying confusedly in the greenish gloom." Pg. 26
I: Marlow is finally presented to the conditions in which the natives are forced to live. He is greatly impacted, saying that they are almost not even human beings any more. He shows a sense of confusion as to why this is happening. Marlow's ignorance is evident.
A: "He had tied a bit of a white worsted round his neck - Why? Where did he get it? Was it a badge - an ornament - a charm - a propitiatory act? Was there any idea at all connected with it? It looked startling round his black neck, this bit of white tread from beyond the seas." Pg. 27
I: Marlow does not understand the tradition of the natives. Since he is new to this place and was used to the way that the people surrounding him dressed, he was not used to the way that the natives dressed. In this case, he did not know why a native was wearing a white necklace.
A: "When near the buildings I met a white man, in such an unexpected elegance of getup that in the first moment I took him for a sort of vision. I saw a high starched collar, white cuffs, a light alpaca jacket, snowy trousers, a clean necktie, and varnished boots. No hat. Hair parted, brushed, oiled, under a green-lined parasol held in a big white hand. H was amazing, and had a penholder in his ear."
I: After Marlow had observed all the natives suffering of weakness, when he saw this white man, he even thought he was an illusion because of the way he dressed. This shows that Marlow was so used to his society's ways that after seeing a distinct way of dressing, the white man looked like some sort of king. Marlow observed him with great admiration in comparison with the natives. Marlow shook hands with him and learned that he was the Company's chief accountant.
A: "Moreover, I respected the fellow. Yes; I respected his collars, his vast cuffs, his brushed hair. His appearance was certainly that of a hairdresser's dummy; but in the great demoralization of the land he dept up his appearance. That's backbone. His starched collars and got-up shirt-fronts were achievements of character. He had been out nearly three years; and later, I could not help asking him how he managed to sport such linen."
I: Marlow states that the way in which the accountant dresses does not make sense in the place in which he was, the jungle. He was dressed with luxurious clothes but was in the jungle where all the natives lived, where luxurious clothes may not even be valued. But Marlow still states that he respects the man. Marlow made his description to the accountant a little similar to that of the native he gave some bread. He restated how both men had been wearing some sort of collar.
10/21/07
A: "When one has to make correct entries, one comes to hate those savages - hate them to death." Pg. 30
I: Here the accountant of Mr. Kurtz is talking to Marlow. There is a native moaning near by because he had been badly beaten. The accountant complains that the native distracted him and so hated him because it could make him write wrong entries. The native was beaten so badly that it would seem he was almost dead.
A: "Well, if a lot of mysterious niggers armed with all kinds of fearful weapons suddenly took to travelling on the road between Deal and Gravesend, catching the yokels right and left to carry heavy loads for them, I fancy every farm and cottage thereabouts would get empty very soon." Pg. 31
I: Marlow has seen some villages that were abandoned. He predicts that if the natives had their own sevants to carry things for them, everyone would flee. Marlow is kind of explaining the effects of imperialism against the natives.
A: "The word 'ivory' rang in the air, was whispered, was sighed. You would think they were praying to it." Pg. 37
I: Here Marlow realizes that the whole purpose of travelling to Africa is for profit. Everyone just wants to get as much ivory or anything else of value as they can to earn large amounts of income. The way Marlow uses hyperbole to describe this kind of obsession with ivory shows how the imperialists did not care of anything but money.
A: "And outside, the silent wilderness surrounding this cleared speck on the earth struck me as something great and invincible, like evil or truth, waiting patiently for the passing away of this fantastic invasion." Pg. 37
I: Marlow thinks that the imperialist have abused nature and the wilderness and so nature would soon act on the invading imperialist. It gives the sensation of suspense in the novel.
10/22/07
A: "It was as unreal as everything else - as the philanthropic pretence of the whole concern, as their talk, as their government, as their show of work. the only real feeling was a desire to get appointed to a trading-post where ivory was to be had, so that they could earn percentages. they intrigued and slandered and hated each other only on that account - but as to effectually lifting a finger - oh, no." Pg. 39
I: Marlow keeps describing the imperialist's obsession with gaining money. He tells that some os them even hated themselves for doing it because they would need to compete for the most gains. Marlow seemed like he had no idea what had been taking place in Africa until he worked there.
A: "Serve him right. Transgression - punishment - bang! Pitiless, pitiless. That's the only way. This will prevent all conflagrations for the future." Pg. 42
I: This was a man that appeared while Marlow was talking to someone else. There was a beaten native that was moaning. It is evident that the imperialist did not even think the natives were human beings because they would teat them with violence and abuse so that they would not make a rebellion against them.
A: "You know I hate, detest, and can't bear a lie, not because I am straighter than the rest of us, but simply because it appalls me. There is a taint of death, a flavour of mortality in lies - which is exactly what I hate and detest in the world - what I want to forget. It makes me miserable and sick, like biting something rotten would do." Pg. 44
I: Marlow feel himself so loyal to Kurtz that he would even lie for him even though he had not met him in person yet. It is a large commitment for Marlow because he explains how much he detests lies and liers.
A: Change of narration from Marlow to the real Narrator of the story Pg. 44
I: The effect is that the narrator can explain what Marlow's feelings are. Although Marlow tells the majority of the story in the novel he is not the novel's narrator. It makes the reader get confused if he or she is not paying close attention to who is talking.
10/23/07
A: "I don't like work - no man does - but I like what is in the work - the chance to find yourself. Your own reality - for yourself, no for the others - what no other man can ever know. They can only see the mere show, and never can tell what it really means." Pg. 47
I: Here Marlow talks about how he feels his steamer boat can be a better friend than the other men around. He said 'she' (the boat) had given him a chance to come out a bit - to find out what he is capable of doing. He says that only the he himself can know what he is capable of doing, other men do not have to tell him, and that is what he likes about work.
10/24/07
A: "'We will not be free from unfair competition till one of these fellows is hanged for an example," he said. 'Certainly,' grunted the other; 'get him hanged! Why not? Anything - anything can be done in this country. That's what I say; nobody here, you understand, here, can endanger you position. And why? You stand the climate - you outlast them all. The danger is in Europe; but there before I left I took care to -'" Pg. 53
I: Here Marlow overhears his manager and the uncle's conversation. Apparently there was someone who was winning all the competition. The manager suggests hanging someone for examle, which means that he would use violence if it would be necessary.
A: "'he bothered me enough when he was here. "Each station should be like a beacon on the road toward better things, a centre for trading of course, but also for humanizing, improving, instructing." Conceive you - that ass! And he wants to be manager. No it's -"' Pg. 54
I: Here, the manager and his uncle still talk about the man that had been winning the competition. It can be infered that he was a man that believed in progress because he talked about humanizing and improving. It is evident that the manager strongly opposed that idea. It is probably because he is too racist.
10/25/07
A: "And after all, they did not eat each other before my face: they had brought a long provision of hippo-meat which went rotten, and made the mystery of the wilderness stink in my nostrils. Phoo!" Pg. 57
I: Marlow has his stereotyipical view of the natives as cannibals. He said that the only reason why they had not eaten themselves was because they some rotten hippo meat. Here he may realize how terrible conditions were for them that they are even forced to eat unedible food.
A: "We penetrated deeper and deeper to the heart of darkness." Pg. 58
I: The title of the book is used in this sentence. It is a reference to the jungle and the wilderness. The heart of darkness is probably also the revenge that the wilderness can get on the men. It is also possible to be a heart of darkness because it has not been civilezed to according to western ideology.
A: "They howled and leaped, and spun, and made horrid faces; but what thrilled you was just the thought of their humanity - like yours - the thought of you remote kinship with this wild passionate uproar. Ugly." Pg. 59
I: Marlow explains how he is surprised to know that the natives are actual human beings because from his stand point, they did not act like it. Marlow's resistance to view things differently and not as how they appear to him is evident here.
10/26/07
A: "Very well; I hear; I admit, but I have a voice too, and for good or evil mine is the speech that cannot be silenced." Pg. 60
I: Here Marlow explains how people like him who are new to this new world do not know the reality of what is happening. He explains how they would act like they are focused on their work. He would like to have the courage to stand up to his voice even if it would mean for him to be in serious conflict.
A: "Not a very enthralling book; but at first glance you could see there a singleness of intention, an honest concern for the right way of going to work, which made these humble pages, thought out so many years ago, luminous with another than a professional light." Pg. 63
I:
A: "I slipped the book into my pocket. I assure you to leave a reading was like tearing myself away from the shelter of an old and solid friendship." Pg. 63
I:
A: "Why in the name of all gnawing devils of hunger they didn't go for us - they were thirty to five - and have a good tuck-in for once, amazes me now when I think of it. They were big powerful men, with not much capacity to weigh the consequences, with courage, with strength, even yet, though their skins were no longer glossy and their muscles no longer hard." Pg. 69
I:
A: "It takes a man all his inborn strength to fight hunger properly. It's really easier to face bereavement, dishonour, and the perdition of one's soul than this kind of prolonged hunger."
Pg. 70
I:
10/27/07
A: "The food nigger had dropped everything, to throw the shutter open and let off that Martini-Henry. He stood before the wide opening, glaring, and I yelled at him to come back, while I straightened the sudden twist out of that steamboat." Pg. 76
I:
A: "It was the shaft of a spear that, either thrown or longed through the opening, had caught him in the side just below the ribs; the blade had gone out of sight, after making a frightful gash, my shoes were full; a pool of blood lay very still, gleaming dark-red under the wheel; his eyes shown with an amazing lustre." Pg. 77
I:
A: "He looked at me anxiously, gripping the spear like something precious, with an air of being afraid I would try to take it away from him." Pg. 77
I:
10/29/07
A: "I declare it looked as though he would presently put us some question in an understandable language; but he died without uttering a sound, without moving a limb, without twitching a muscle. Only in the very last moment, as though in a response to some sign we could not see, to some whisper we could not hear, he frowned heavily, and that frown gave to his black death-mask an inconceivably sombre, brooding, and menacing expression." Pg. 78
I:
A: "To tell you the truth, I was morbidly anxious to change my shoes and socks. 'He is dead,' murmured the fellow, immensely impressed. 'No doubt about it,' said I, tuggling like mad at the shoe-laces. 'And by the way, I suppose Mr. Kurtz is dead as well by this time."' Pg. 78
I:
A: "The point was in his being a gifted creature, and that of all his gifts the one that stood out preeminently, that carried with it a sense of real presence, was his ability to talk, his words - the gift of expression, the bewildering, the illuminating, the most exalted and the most contemptible, the pulsating stream of light, or deceitful flow from the heart of an impenetrable darkness." Pg. 79
I:
A: "I couldn't have felt more of lonely desolation somehow, I had been robbed of belief or had mossed my destiny in life. . ." Pg. 79
I:
10/30/07
A: Shift from Marlow to the Narrator in the story.
I:
A: "My ideal boys, what can you expect from a man who out of sheer herrousness had just flung overboard a pair of new shoes! Now I think of it, it is amazing I did not shed in tears." Pg. 80
I:
A: "They - the women I mean - are out of it - should be out of it. We must help them to stay in that beautiful world of their own, let our gets worse." Pg. 81
I:
A: "The wilderness had patted him on the head and behold, it was like a ball - an ivory ball; it had caressed him, and - lol- he had withered; it had taken him, loved him, embraced him, got into his veins, consumed his flesh, and sealed his soul to its won by the inconceivable ceremonies of some devilish initiation." Pg. 81
I:
A: "He had been a very second-rate helmsman while alive but now dead he might become a first-class temptation, and possibly cause some startling trouble." Pg. 86
I:
A: "One good screech will do more for you that all your rifles, they are simple people." Pg. 89
I:
A: "For months - for years - his life hadn't been worth a day's purchase; and there he was gallantly, thoughtlessly alive, to all appearance indestructible solely by the virtue of his many years and of his unreflecting audacity. I was seduced into something like admiration - like envy. Glamour urged him on, glamour kept him unscathed. He surely wanted nothing from the wilderness but space to breathe in and to push on through." Pg. 92
I:
A: "His need was to exist, and to move onwards at the greatest possible risk, and with a maximum of privation. If the absolutely pure, inculcating, unpractical spirit of adventure had ever ruled a human being, it ruled this bespathced youth." Pg. 92
I:
A: "I looked around and I don't know why, but I assure you that never, never before, did this land, this river, this jungle, the very arc of this blazing sky, appear to me so hopeless and so dark, so impenetrable to human thought, so pitiless to human weakness. 'And, ever since, you have been with him of course?" I said." Pg. 93
I:
10/31/07
A: "'What can you expect?' he burst out; 'he came to them with thunder and lightning, you know - and they had never seen anything like it - and very terrible. He could be very terrible. You can't judge Mr. Kurtz as you would an ordinary man. No, no, no! Now to just give you an idea - I don't mind telling you, he wanted to shoot me too, one day - but I don't judge him.'"
Pg. 94-95
I:
A: "Well he wanted it, and wouldn't hear reason. He declared he would shoot me unless I gave him the ivory and then cleared cut the country, because he could do so, and had a fancy for it, and there was nothing on earth to prevent him killing whom jolly well pleased." Pg. 95
I:
A: "'This man suffered too much. He hated all this, and somehow he couldn't get away." Pg. 95
I:
A: "Evidently the appetite for more ivory had got the better of what - shall I say? - less material aspirations. However he had got much worse suddenly." Pg. 96
I:
A: "I returned deliberately to the first I had seen - and there it was, black, dried, sunken, with closed eyelids - ahead that seemed to sleep at the top of that pole, and, with the shrunken dry lips showing a narrow white line of teeth, was smiling too, smiling continuously at some jocose dream of that eternal slumber." Pg. 97
I:
A: "I want you clearly to understand that there was nothing exactly profitable in these heads being there. They only showed that Mr. Kurtz lacked restraint in the gratification of his various lusts, that there was something wanting in him - some small matter which, when the pressing need arose, could not be found under his magnificent eloquence." Pg. 97
I:
A: "Rebels! What would be the next definition I was to hear? There had been enemies, criminals, workers - and these were rebels. Those rebellious heads looked very subdued to me on their sticks." Pg. 99
I:
11/01/07
A: "She was savage and superb, wild-eyed and magnificent; there was something ominous and stately in her deliberate progress. Amd in the hush that had fallen suddenly upon the whole sorrowful land, the immense wilderness, the colossal body of the fecund and mysterioud life seemed to look at her, pensive, and shough it had veen looking at the image of its own tenebrous and passionate soul." Pg. 103
I:
A: "'Nevertheless I think Mr. Kurtz is a remarkable man,' I said with emphasis. He started, dropped onl me a cold heavy glance, said very quietly, 'he was,' and turned his back on me."
Pg. 105
I:
A: "'But quiet - eh? he urged anxiously. 'It would be axful for his reputation if anybody here - ' I promised a complete iscretion with great gravity." Pg. 107
I:
11/02/07
A: "I tried to break the spell - the heavy, mute spell of the wilderness - that seemed to drew him to its pitiless breast by the awakening of forgotten and brutal instincts, by the memory of gratified and monstrous passions." Pg. 112
I:
A: "I had, even like the niggers, to invoke him - himself - his own exalted and incredible degradation. There was nothing either above or below him, and I knew it." Pg. 112
I:
A: "He stuggled woth himlelf, too. I saw it - I heard it. I saw the inconceivable mystery of a sould that knew no restraint, no faith, and no fear, yet struggling blindly with itself." Pg. 113
I:
A: "The brown current ran swiftly out of the heart of darkness, bearing us down towards the sea with twice the speed of oup upward progress; and Kurtz's life was running swirtly, too, ebbing, ebbing out of his heart into the sea of inexorable time." Pg. 115
A: "'One evening comming in with a candle I was startled to hear him say a little tremendously, 'I am lying here in the dark waiting for death.'" Pg. 117
I:
11/03/07
A: "There was a lamp in there - light, don't you know - and outside it was so beastly, beastly dark. I went no more near the remarkable man who had pronounced a judgment upon the adventures of his soul on this earth. The voice was gore. What else had been there?" Pg. 118
I:
A: "It takes place in an impalpable greyness, with nothing underfoot, without clamour, without glory, without the great desire of victory, without the great fear of death, in a sickly atmosphere of tepid scepticism, without much belief in your own right, and still less in htat of your adversary." Pg. 119
I:
A: "I had no particular desire to enlighten them, but I had some difficulty in restraining myself form laughing in their faces so full of stupid importance. I daresay I was not very well at that time." Pg. 121
I:
11/04/07
A: "But with every word spocken the room was growing darker, and only her forehead, smooth adn withe remained illumined by the unextinguishable light of belief and love." Pg. 127
I:
A: "He had given me some reason to infer that it was his impatience of comparative poverty that drove him out there." Pg. 128
I:
A: Swith from Marlow to Narrator of story Pg. 131
I:
A: "Besides holding our hearts together through long periods of separation, it has the effect of making us tolerant of each other's yarns - and even convictions." Pg. 3-4
I: The narrator feels a bond with the sea. There is a connection with nature. There is a sense of peace with the sea. Can infer that the speaker went through some rough things because he says that only the sea made them tolerant of each other's yarn, can mean that they have been involved in something that may of been wrong.
A: "The day was ending in a serenity of still and exquisite brilliance. The water shone pacifically; the sky, without a speck, was a benign immensity of unstained light; the very mist of the Essex marsh was like a gauzy and radiant fabric, hung from the wooden rises inland, and draping the low shores in diaphanous folds." Pg. 4
I: There is more signs of closeness and peace with nature. The way that the author uses imagery to describe a scene has much emphasis on the natural surroundings. The closeness with the sea is also being emphasized, since the men are sailing a boat.
A: "Land in a swamp, march through the woods, and in some inland post feel the savagery, the utter savagery, had closed round him - all that mysterious life of the wilderness that stirs in the forest, in the jungles, in the hearts of wild men." Pg.8
I: The first mentioning of savage nature. The jungle is considered savage according to the men because of the wilderness and because there is no "civilization". Marlow is telling the narrator of the story and other men about his experience when he wanted to discover places around the world and travel around. Marlow's understanding of the jungle and the people is of being savage because he sees the Africans as animals in the wild.
A: "The fascination, too, that goes to work upon him. The fascination of the abomination - you know, imagine growing regrets, the longing to escape, the powerless disgust, the surrender, the hate." Pg.8
I: Marlow recounts the story of how the Roman people were the first to settle in the regions of the wilderness in Africa. He talks about the men's concern, since at this time there was a wild and savage world in which civilized men could not find food and were stricken by disease and death. There is some sort of rising hate toward the wilderness because of its mystery and man's inferiority to it for survival.
A: "The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much." Pg. 9
I: Marlow starts to realize how the European people have discriminated and abused the people that originally live in the wilderness. Their land had been taken away from them and forced labor as a slave was enforced cruelly.
A: "Therefore he whacked the old nigger mercilessly,. . . . Pg. 13
I: Marlow tells the story of how a captain of the company he wanted to work with was killed by black villagers. The quarrel arose from a misunderstanding about some hens. Fresleven, the captain thought himself wronged in the bargain, so he went ashore and started to hammer the chief of the village with a stick. He was supposedly the gentlest, quietest creature that ever walked on two legs but Marlow was not surprised by his action. Fresleven had been engaged in a noble cause for a couple of years and probably felt the need at last of asserting his self-respect in some way. Therefore he whacked the chief while a big crowd of his people watched him thunderstruck, till some man made a tentative jab with a spear at the white man and it went quite easy between the shoulder-blades. This happening may show that no matter how noble a white person may be in this time period, they still felt superior to the black people and so thought they could do what they want.
10/18/07
A: "She talked about 'weaning those ignorant millions from their horrid ways,' till upon my word, she made me quite uncomfortable. I ventured to hint that the Company was run for profit." Pg. 18-19
I: Marlow was talking to the wife of dignitary of the company that was going to hire him. She explained that the labourer is worthy of his hire. The fact that this woman is in the high class gives the clue that she believes in racial and social standards in this time period. Marlow is ignorant of the situation and so says how this company only runs to make profit, no matter what had to be done, in this instance, 'weaning' the natives from their 'horrid' ways.
A: "There was a touch of insanity in the proceeding, a sense of lugubrious drollery in the sight; and it was not dissipated by somebody on board assuring me earnestly there was a camp of natives - he called them enemies! - hidden out of sight somewhere." Pg. 21
I: Marlow tells of when he was sailing and came close to a place where natives live. His ignorance is shown by the way he does not know how racist the other white men are to the natives. He does not really understand the situation. Marlow may be brainwashed to think that he is superior to the natives as well.
10/19/07
A: "A lot of people, mostly black and naked, moved about like ants." Pg. 23
I: Marlow describes the natives as looking like ants. It demonstrates how he himself, although he may not be racist describes what he sees and views the natives as animals instead of human beings.
A: "They passed me within six inches, without a glance, with that complete, deathlike indifference of unhappy savages." Pg. 24
I: Marlow is so ignorant about the natives' feelings that he does not understand that the natives are being abused by people that look like him. It is not that the natives would want to be dis respective, it is that they have been oppresses and abused by the white colonists. Marlow's ignorance about the situation is still apparent.
10/20/07
A: "They were dying slowly - it was clear. they were not enemies, they were not criminals, they were nothing earthy now - nothing by black shadows of decease and starvation, lying confusedly in the greenish gloom." Pg. 26
I: Marlow is finally presented to the conditions in which the natives are forced to live. He is greatly impacted, saying that they are almost not even human beings any more. He shows a sense of confusion as to why this is happening. Marlow's ignorance is evident.
A: "He had tied a bit of a white worsted round his neck - Why? Where did he get it? Was it a badge - an ornament - a charm - a propitiatory act? Was there any idea at all connected with it? It looked startling round his black neck, this bit of white tread from beyond the seas." Pg. 27
I: Marlow does not understand the tradition of the natives. Since he is new to this place and was used to the way that the people surrounding him dressed, he was not used to the way that the natives dressed. In this case, he did not know why a native was wearing a white necklace.
A: "When near the buildings I met a white man, in such an unexpected elegance of getup that in the first moment I took him for a sort of vision. I saw a high starched collar, white cuffs, a light alpaca jacket, snowy trousers, a clean necktie, and varnished boots. No hat. Hair parted, brushed, oiled, under a green-lined parasol held in a big white hand. H was amazing, and had a penholder in his ear."
I: After Marlow had observed all the natives suffering of weakness, when he saw this white man, he even thought he was an illusion because of the way he dressed. This shows that Marlow was so used to his society's ways that after seeing a distinct way of dressing, the white man looked like some sort of king. Marlow observed him with great admiration in comparison with the natives. Marlow shook hands with him and learned that he was the Company's chief accountant.
A: "Moreover, I respected the fellow. Yes; I respected his collars, his vast cuffs, his brushed hair. His appearance was certainly that of a hairdresser's dummy; but in the great demoralization of the land he dept up his appearance. That's backbone. His starched collars and got-up shirt-fronts were achievements of character. He had been out nearly three years; and later, I could not help asking him how he managed to sport such linen."
I: Marlow states that the way in which the accountant dresses does not make sense in the place in which he was, the jungle. He was dressed with luxurious clothes but was in the jungle where all the natives lived, where luxurious clothes may not even be valued. But Marlow still states that he respects the man. Marlow made his description to the accountant a little similar to that of the native he gave some bread. He restated how both men had been wearing some sort of collar.
10/21/07
A: "When one has to make correct entries, one comes to hate those savages - hate them to death." Pg. 30
I: Here the accountant of Mr. Kurtz is talking to Marlow. There is a native moaning near by because he had been badly beaten. The accountant complains that the native distracted him and so hated him because it could make him write wrong entries. The native was beaten so badly that it would seem he was almost dead.
A: "Well, if a lot of mysterious niggers armed with all kinds of fearful weapons suddenly took to travelling on the road between Deal and Gravesend, catching the yokels right and left to carry heavy loads for them, I fancy every farm and cottage thereabouts would get empty very soon." Pg. 31
I: Marlow has seen some villages that were abandoned. He predicts that if the natives had their own sevants to carry things for them, everyone would flee. Marlow is kind of explaining the effects of imperialism against the natives.
A: "The word 'ivory' rang in the air, was whispered, was sighed. You would think they were praying to it." Pg. 37
I: Here Marlow realizes that the whole purpose of travelling to Africa is for profit. Everyone just wants to get as much ivory or anything else of value as they can to earn large amounts of income. The way Marlow uses hyperbole to describe this kind of obsession with ivory shows how the imperialists did not care of anything but money.
A: "And outside, the silent wilderness surrounding this cleared speck on the earth struck me as something great and invincible, like evil or truth, waiting patiently for the passing away of this fantastic invasion." Pg. 37
I: Marlow thinks that the imperialist have abused nature and the wilderness and so nature would soon act on the invading imperialist. It gives the sensation of suspense in the novel.
10/22/07
A: "It was as unreal as everything else - as the philanthropic pretence of the whole concern, as their talk, as their government, as their show of work. the only real feeling was a desire to get appointed to a trading-post where ivory was to be had, so that they could earn percentages. they intrigued and slandered and hated each other only on that account - but as to effectually lifting a finger - oh, no." Pg. 39
I: Marlow keeps describing the imperialist's obsession with gaining money. He tells that some os them even hated themselves for doing it because they would need to compete for the most gains. Marlow seemed like he had no idea what had been taking place in Africa until he worked there.
A: "Serve him right. Transgression - punishment - bang! Pitiless, pitiless. That's the only way. This will prevent all conflagrations for the future." Pg. 42
I: This was a man that appeared while Marlow was talking to someone else. There was a beaten native that was moaning. It is evident that the imperialist did not even think the natives were human beings because they would teat them with violence and abuse so that they would not make a rebellion against them.
A: "You know I hate, detest, and can't bear a lie, not because I am straighter than the rest of us, but simply because it appalls me. There is a taint of death, a flavour of mortality in lies - which is exactly what I hate and detest in the world - what I want to forget. It makes me miserable and sick, like biting something rotten would do." Pg. 44
I: Marlow feel himself so loyal to Kurtz that he would even lie for him even though he had not met him in person yet. It is a large commitment for Marlow because he explains how much he detests lies and liers.
A: Change of narration from Marlow to the real Narrator of the story Pg. 44
I: The effect is that the narrator can explain what Marlow's feelings are. Although Marlow tells the majority of the story in the novel he is not the novel's narrator. It makes the reader get confused if he or she is not paying close attention to who is talking.
10/23/07
A: "I don't like work - no man does - but I like what is in the work - the chance to find yourself. Your own reality - for yourself, no for the others - what no other man can ever know. They can only see the mere show, and never can tell what it really means." Pg. 47
I: Here Marlow talks about how he feels his steamer boat can be a better friend than the other men around. He said 'she' (the boat) had given him a chance to come out a bit - to find out what he is capable of doing. He says that only the he himself can know what he is capable of doing, other men do not have to tell him, and that is what he likes about work.
10/24/07
A: "'We will not be free from unfair competition till one of these fellows is hanged for an example," he said. 'Certainly,' grunted the other; 'get him hanged! Why not? Anything - anything can be done in this country. That's what I say; nobody here, you understand, here, can endanger you position. And why? You stand the climate - you outlast them all. The danger is in Europe; but there before I left I took care to -'" Pg. 53
I: Here Marlow overhears his manager and the uncle's conversation. Apparently there was someone who was winning all the competition. The manager suggests hanging someone for examle, which means that he would use violence if it would be necessary.
A: "'he bothered me enough when he was here. "Each station should be like a beacon on the road toward better things, a centre for trading of course, but also for humanizing, improving, instructing." Conceive you - that ass! And he wants to be manager. No it's -"' Pg. 54
I: Here, the manager and his uncle still talk about the man that had been winning the competition. It can be infered that he was a man that believed in progress because he talked about humanizing and improving. It is evident that the manager strongly opposed that idea. It is probably because he is too racist.
10/25/07
A: "And after all, they did not eat each other before my face: they had brought a long provision of hippo-meat which went rotten, and made the mystery of the wilderness stink in my nostrils. Phoo!" Pg. 57
I: Marlow has his stereotyipical view of the natives as cannibals. He said that the only reason why they had not eaten themselves was because they some rotten hippo meat. Here he may realize how terrible conditions were for them that they are even forced to eat unedible food.
A: "We penetrated deeper and deeper to the heart of darkness." Pg. 58
I: The title of the book is used in this sentence. It is a reference to the jungle and the wilderness. The heart of darkness is probably also the revenge that the wilderness can get on the men. It is also possible to be a heart of darkness because it has not been civilezed to according to western ideology.
A: "They howled and leaped, and spun, and made horrid faces; but what thrilled you was just the thought of their humanity - like yours - the thought of you remote kinship with this wild passionate uproar. Ugly." Pg. 59
I: Marlow explains how he is surprised to know that the natives are actual human beings because from his stand point, they did not act like it. Marlow's resistance to view things differently and not as how they appear to him is evident here.
10/26/07
A: "Very well; I hear; I admit, but I have a voice too, and for good or evil mine is the speech that cannot be silenced." Pg. 60
I: Here Marlow explains how people like him who are new to this new world do not know the reality of what is happening. He explains how they would act like they are focused on their work. He would like to have the courage to stand up to his voice even if it would mean for him to be in serious conflict.
A: "Not a very enthralling book; but at first glance you could see there a singleness of intention, an honest concern for the right way of going to work, which made these humble pages, thought out so many years ago, luminous with another than a professional light." Pg. 63
I:
A: "I slipped the book into my pocket. I assure you to leave a reading was like tearing myself away from the shelter of an old and solid friendship." Pg. 63
I:
A: "Why in the name of all gnawing devils of hunger they didn't go for us - they were thirty to five - and have a good tuck-in for once, amazes me now when I think of it. They were big powerful men, with not much capacity to weigh the consequences, with courage, with strength, even yet, though their skins were no longer glossy and their muscles no longer hard." Pg. 69
I:
A: "It takes a man all his inborn strength to fight hunger properly. It's really easier to face bereavement, dishonour, and the perdition of one's soul than this kind of prolonged hunger."
Pg. 70
I:
10/27/07
A: "The food nigger had dropped everything, to throw the shutter open and let off that Martini-Henry. He stood before the wide opening, glaring, and I yelled at him to come back, while I straightened the sudden twist out of that steamboat." Pg. 76
I:
A: "It was the shaft of a spear that, either thrown or longed through the opening, had caught him in the side just below the ribs; the blade had gone out of sight, after making a frightful gash, my shoes were full; a pool of blood lay very still, gleaming dark-red under the wheel; his eyes shown with an amazing lustre." Pg. 77
I:
A: "He looked at me anxiously, gripping the spear like something precious, with an air of being afraid I would try to take it away from him." Pg. 77
I:
10/29/07
A: "I declare it looked as though he would presently put us some question in an understandable language; but he died without uttering a sound, without moving a limb, without twitching a muscle. Only in the very last moment, as though in a response to some sign we could not see, to some whisper we could not hear, he frowned heavily, and that frown gave to his black death-mask an inconceivably sombre, brooding, and menacing expression." Pg. 78
I:
A: "To tell you the truth, I was morbidly anxious to change my shoes and socks. 'He is dead,' murmured the fellow, immensely impressed. 'No doubt about it,' said I, tuggling like mad at the shoe-laces. 'And by the way, I suppose Mr. Kurtz is dead as well by this time."' Pg. 78
I:
A: "The point was in his being a gifted creature, and that of all his gifts the one that stood out preeminently, that carried with it a sense of real presence, was his ability to talk, his words - the gift of expression, the bewildering, the illuminating, the most exalted and the most contemptible, the pulsating stream of light, or deceitful flow from the heart of an impenetrable darkness." Pg. 79
I:
A: "I couldn't have felt more of lonely desolation somehow, I had been robbed of belief or had mossed my destiny in life. . ." Pg. 79
I:
10/30/07
A: Shift from Marlow to the Narrator in the story.
I:
A: "My ideal boys, what can you expect from a man who out of sheer herrousness had just flung overboard a pair of new shoes! Now I think of it, it is amazing I did not shed in tears." Pg. 80
I:
A: "They - the women I mean - are out of it - should be out of it. We must help them to stay in that beautiful world of their own, let our gets worse." Pg. 81
I:
A: "The wilderness had patted him on the head and behold, it was like a ball - an ivory ball; it had caressed him, and - lol- he had withered; it had taken him, loved him, embraced him, got into his veins, consumed his flesh, and sealed his soul to its won by the inconceivable ceremonies of some devilish initiation." Pg. 81
I:
A: "He had been a very second-rate helmsman while alive but now dead he might become a first-class temptation, and possibly cause some startling trouble." Pg. 86
I:
A: "One good screech will do more for you that all your rifles, they are simple people." Pg. 89
I:
A: "For months - for years - his life hadn't been worth a day's purchase; and there he was gallantly, thoughtlessly alive, to all appearance indestructible solely by the virtue of his many years and of his unreflecting audacity. I was seduced into something like admiration - like envy. Glamour urged him on, glamour kept him unscathed. He surely wanted nothing from the wilderness but space to breathe in and to push on through." Pg. 92
I:
A: "His need was to exist, and to move onwards at the greatest possible risk, and with a maximum of privation. If the absolutely pure, inculcating, unpractical spirit of adventure had ever ruled a human being, it ruled this bespathced youth." Pg. 92
I:
A: "I looked around and I don't know why, but I assure you that never, never before, did this land, this river, this jungle, the very arc of this blazing sky, appear to me so hopeless and so dark, so impenetrable to human thought, so pitiless to human weakness. 'And, ever since, you have been with him of course?" I said." Pg. 93
I:
10/31/07
A: "'What can you expect?' he burst out; 'he came to them with thunder and lightning, you know - and they had never seen anything like it - and very terrible. He could be very terrible. You can't judge Mr. Kurtz as you would an ordinary man. No, no, no! Now to just give you an idea - I don't mind telling you, he wanted to shoot me too, one day - but I don't judge him.'"
Pg. 94-95
I:
A: "Well he wanted it, and wouldn't hear reason. He declared he would shoot me unless I gave him the ivory and then cleared cut the country, because he could do so, and had a fancy for it, and there was nothing on earth to prevent him killing whom jolly well pleased." Pg. 95
I:
A: "'This man suffered too much. He hated all this, and somehow he couldn't get away." Pg. 95
I:
A: "Evidently the appetite for more ivory had got the better of what - shall I say? - less material aspirations. However he had got much worse suddenly." Pg. 96
I:
A: "I returned deliberately to the first I had seen - and there it was, black, dried, sunken, with closed eyelids - ahead that seemed to sleep at the top of that pole, and, with the shrunken dry lips showing a narrow white line of teeth, was smiling too, smiling continuously at some jocose dream of that eternal slumber." Pg. 97
I:
A: "I want you clearly to understand that there was nothing exactly profitable in these heads being there. They only showed that Mr. Kurtz lacked restraint in the gratification of his various lusts, that there was something wanting in him - some small matter which, when the pressing need arose, could not be found under his magnificent eloquence." Pg. 97
I:
A: "Rebels! What would be the next definition I was to hear? There had been enemies, criminals, workers - and these were rebels. Those rebellious heads looked very subdued to me on their sticks." Pg. 99
I:
11/01/07
A: "She was savage and superb, wild-eyed and magnificent; there was something ominous and stately in her deliberate progress. Amd in the hush that had fallen suddenly upon the whole sorrowful land, the immense wilderness, the colossal body of the fecund and mysterioud life seemed to look at her, pensive, and shough it had veen looking at the image of its own tenebrous and passionate soul." Pg. 103
I:
A: "'Nevertheless I think Mr. Kurtz is a remarkable man,' I said with emphasis. He started, dropped onl me a cold heavy glance, said very quietly, 'he was,' and turned his back on me."
Pg. 105
I:
A: "'But quiet - eh? he urged anxiously. 'It would be axful for his reputation if anybody here - ' I promised a complete iscretion with great gravity." Pg. 107
I:
11/02/07
A: "I tried to break the spell - the heavy, mute spell of the wilderness - that seemed to drew him to its pitiless breast by the awakening of forgotten and brutal instincts, by the memory of gratified and monstrous passions." Pg. 112
I:
A: "I had, even like the niggers, to invoke him - himself - his own exalted and incredible degradation. There was nothing either above or below him, and I knew it." Pg. 112
I:
A: "He stuggled woth himlelf, too. I saw it - I heard it. I saw the inconceivable mystery of a sould that knew no restraint, no faith, and no fear, yet struggling blindly with itself." Pg. 113
I:
A: "The brown current ran swiftly out of the heart of darkness, bearing us down towards the sea with twice the speed of oup upward progress; and Kurtz's life was running swirtly, too, ebbing, ebbing out of his heart into the sea of inexorable time." Pg. 115
A: "'One evening comming in with a candle I was startled to hear him say a little tremendously, 'I am lying here in the dark waiting for death.'" Pg. 117
I:
11/03/07
A: "There was a lamp in there - light, don't you know - and outside it was so beastly, beastly dark. I went no more near the remarkable man who had pronounced a judgment upon the adventures of his soul on this earth. The voice was gore. What else had been there?" Pg. 118
I:
A: "It takes place in an impalpable greyness, with nothing underfoot, without clamour, without glory, without the great desire of victory, without the great fear of death, in a sickly atmosphere of tepid scepticism, without much belief in your own right, and still less in htat of your adversary." Pg. 119
I:
A: "I had no particular desire to enlighten them, but I had some difficulty in restraining myself form laughing in their faces so full of stupid importance. I daresay I was not very well at that time." Pg. 121
I:
11/04/07
A: "But with every word spocken the room was growing darker, and only her forehead, smooth adn withe remained illumined by the unextinguishable light of belief and love." Pg. 127
I:
A: "He had given me some reason to infer that it was his impatience of comparative poverty that drove him out there." Pg. 128
I:
A: Swith from Marlow to Narrator of story Pg. 131
I:
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Jane Eyre Annotations
Chapter 1
A: "Me she had dispensed from joining the group, saying, "she regretted to bi under the necessity of keeping me at a distance"- "she really must exclude me from priviledges intended only for contented, happy little children""pg.9
I: A forshadowing that Jane Eyre will not have good relations with the family. She may get kicked out of the house. The other children may hate her.
A: "He bullied and punished me; not two or three times in a week, nor once or twice in a day, but continually: every nerve I had feared him, and every morsel of flesh shrank when he came near." Pg. 12
I: John Reed is a terrible boy. He may become to be the nightmare of Jane. He, as well as his mother and sisters are probably the antagonists of the story.
A: "Wiked and cruel boy!" I said. "You are like a murderer - you are like a slave-driver - you are like the Roman emperors!" Pg. 13
I: Jane was tired of her oppression and decided to finally stand up for herself. She may then decide to stand for herself against Mrs. Reed and the rest of the family until she is then kicked out of the house. This act may contribute to some courage.
Chapter 2
A: Mr. Reed had been dead nine years: it was in this chamber he breathed his las; here he lay in state; hence his coffin was borne by the undertaker's men; and, since that day, a sense of dreary consecration had guarded it from frequent intrusion." Pg. 16
I: Because Mr. Reed had died in that chamber, no one really went into it unless it was to be cleaned. Mrs. Reed probably did not have much respect for Mr. Reed because she had Jane be locked up in his chamber as punishment. There is also some sort of mystery in the room since it is kept undisturbed since Mr. Reed had died.
A: "All looked colder and darker in that visionary than in reality: and the strange little figure there gazing at me, with a white face and arms specking the gloom, and glittering eyes of fear moving where all else was still, had the effect of a real spirit: I thought it like one of the tiny phantoms, half fairy, half imp, Bessie's evening stories represented as coming up out of lone, ferny dells in moors, and appearing before the eyes of belated travellers. I returned to may stool." Pg. 16
I: Bessie's stories gave Jane a superstition that spirits and ghosts probably did exist. Jane thought that because Mr. Reed had died in that chamber that there probably was left something of him like a spirit or some kind of magic.
A: "instigated some strange expedient to achieve escape from insupportable opression- as running away, or, for that could not be effected, never eating or drinking more, and letting myself die." Pg. 17
I: Jane probably lost all hope of living a good life in the future. Because she is being opressed so much, she grows tired of it and would rather die. Shows that she may be weak in character.
Chapter 3
A: "Poverty looks grim to old people, still more so to children: they have not much idea of industrious, working, respectable poverty; the think of the word as connected with ragged clothes, scanty food, fireless grates, rude manners, and debasing voices: poverty for me was synonymous with degradation" Pg. 26
I: Jane, although she is in constant opression, seems influenced by the family's high rank of living because she could not imagine herself living with poor people, even if they were kind. it is ironic in her position because she is treated as a poor person herself.
Chapter 4
A: "I deliberated a moment; my answer, when it did come, was objectionable: "I must keep in good health and not die"". Pg. 34
I: Jane said this when she was asked what she would do because it seems she would go to hell when she would die because of her wickedness. She seems to not take manners seriously and mocks people.
A: "I am not deceitful: if i were, I shuld say i loved you, but I declare I do not love you: I dislike you the worst of any body in the world exept John Reed; and this book about the liar, you may give to hour girl, Georgiana, for it is she who tell lies, and not I." Pg. 38
I: Jane Eyre, after confronting Mrs. Reed, may end up in a lot of trouble. She may surely be kicked out of the house now.
A: "How dare I, Mrs. Reed? How dare I? Because it is the truth. You think I have no feelings, and that I con do without one bit of love or kindness; but I cannot live so: and you have no pity." Pg. 39
I: Jane defends her position on standing up for herself. Ms. Reed may give Jane more respect but it is not likely, since she only cares about her own children. By standing up for herself, Jane may not be as oppressed as she used to be.
Chapter 5
A: "I saw one teacher take a basin of the porridge and taste it; she looked at the others; all their contenances expressed displeasure, and one of them, the stout one, whispered:-"Abomiable stuff! How shamefull!."" Pg. 48
I: The school has very bad conditions and Jane may have to learn the hard way how poverty can affect the life of a person. Jane had been oppresed at Mrs. Reed's house, but she had luxuries that the school does not have to offer. It may change Jane's outlook in what is really important in life.
Chapter 9
A: "Many, already smitten, went home to die: some died at the school, and were buried quietly and quickly, the nature of the malady forbidding delay." Pg. 79
I: Maybe Jane or Helen may get sick and have a terrible ending. The presence of death and sickness may impact Jane.
A: "but a day or two afterwards I learned that Miss Temple, on returning to her own room at dawn, had found me laid in a little crib; my face against Helen Brun's shoulder, my armes round her neck. I was asleep, and Helen was - dead."
I: Jane can get emotionally impacted with the death of her dear friend Helen. Without her, she may start to feel lonely at the school and suffer. she may have to live in isolation for the rest of the time she spends there, since she does not communicate with any of the other girls.
Chapter 10
A: "From the day she left I was no longer the same: with her was gone every settled feeling, every assocation that had made Lowood in some degree a home for me". Pg 87
I: With miss Temple away, Jane might have a hard time because she was close to her and did not really like any of the other teachers. She may now want to get out of the school. It can contribute to her isolation because she does not have a good communication with anyone else.
A: "I desired for liberty; for liberty I gasped; for liberty I uttered a prayer; it seemed scattered on the wind then faintly blowing." Pg. 88
I: Jane might try anything to finally get out of the school because she shows her desperate feelings to get out and have some liberty.
Chapter 11
A: "My heart really warmed to the worthy lady as I heard her talk; and I drew my chair a little nearer to her, and expressed my sincire with that she might find my compay as agreeable as the anticipated." Pg 100
I: Jane is going to try hard so that she can feel that she has some sort of new family in the house that she is going to serve. She wants to have really good relations with Mrs. Fairfax especially since she appeared to be a very good woman.
Chapter 12
A: "It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquility: they must have actions; and they will make it if they cannot find it." Pg. 112
I: Althoug Jane was much better of in Mr. Rochester's house than anywhere she had been, she felt that she still needed some kind of freedom or action. She says that people will tend to make the action themselves if they cannot find it, which can mean that Jane may be up to something.
A: "It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced for their sex." Pg. 113
I: Jane is criticizing the society she lives in because women are limited in many things. she does not like it how women are only limited to working inside a house. it is not fair to her that men have much more power and say than women have at this time.
A: "You play a little, I see; like any other English-girl: perhaps rather better than some, but not well." Pg. 127
I: Mr. Rochester tests the knowledge of Jane. He critizises but compliments her ability to play the piano at the same time. He expects that most girls are probably all the same. Jane at this time shows what she had learned at Lowood and so Mr. Rochester asks to see her portfolio of drawings that she had done. The reader can infere that Mr. Rochester probably expects much out of his employees, espedcially of Jane since she is Adele's teacher.
A: "When I was as old as you, I was a feeling fellow enough; partial to the unfledged, unfostered, and unlucky; but fortune has knocked me about since: she has even kneaded me with her knucles, and now I flatter myself I am as hard and tough as an India-rubber ball" P. 135
I: Mr. Rochester tells Jane her story about how fate had made him a hard person in character. He feels that he will not be able to be like a normal person any more. Jane will probably give him more hope, since Mr. Rochester likes to talk with her. there is also a simile involved in which he compares himself to a india-rubber ball.
A: "Besides, since happiness is irrebocably denied me, I have a right to get pleasure out of life: and I will get it, cost what it may."
I: Mr. Rochester is a man that feels that in his life, he has not really experienced true happiness. He thinks that he deserves a pleasure in life and would do anything possible to get it. This shows Mr. Rochester's desperate feelings. It also gives the assumption that Mr. Rochester may think that happiness may be obtained by having money.
Chapter 15
A: "When I was my charmer thus come accompanied by a cavelier, I seemed to hear a hiss, and the green snake of jealousy, rising on undulating coils from the moonlit balcony, glided within my waistcoat, and ate its way two minutes to my heart's core."
I: Mr. Rochester tells his story of love to Jane. In it he tells her how he became so jealous when he saw a man acompany the woman that he loved. That woman was the mother of Adele, but Mr. Rochester did not consider her as his daughter even though she was. Mr. Rochester's confidence on Jane seems strong because he shared one of his most personal story with her.
Chapter 16
A: "That a greater fool than Jane Eyre had never breathed the breath of life: that more fantastic idiot had never furfeited herself on sweet lies, and swallowed poison as if it were nectar." Pg. 162
I: Jane seems to realize that in her position, it is not likely that Mr. Rochester would really like her as a woman. She starts to have feelings for him and so can not control her feelings toward him. In this quote she is compared to a "fantastic idiot" in which she realizes how ignorant and immature she is to be thinking of Mr. Rochester in an emotional way.
A: " Ill tell you how to manage so as to avoid the embarrasment of making a formalen entrance, which is the most disagreeable part of the business." Pg. 171
I: In this quote, Mrs. Fairfax told Jane that when looked by the high class of people, she should avoid to look bad because it would be a big shame. This shows how important the way someone looked and what social class they belonged to was very important during this time period. Jane will probably not be able to coexist withe the higher classes because she is very different from them.
A: "They dispursed about the room; reminding me, by the lightness and bouyancy of thier movements, of a flock of white plumy birds." Pg. 173
I: In this quote, Jane compares the group of invited people that were going to stay for a while at Mr. Rochester's house to white plumy birds. She is not used to being around a group of individuals that are so different from her. As she observes the people she sees how they just move around in the room and talking to themselves.
A: "a pleasure like what the thirst-perishing man might feel who knows the well to which he has cript is poisoned, yet stops and drinks diving draughts nonetheless." Pg.176
I: At this time of the story, Jane has not doubt that she has strong feelings toward Mr. Rochester. She can not stop looking at him and complimenting him. She knows that he would not be likely to corespond to her but at least has pleasure on looking at him. In the quote, she is compared to a thirst-perishing man who knows the well to which he has cript is poisoned, yet stops and drinks a lot of the water. The poison, in Jane's case would be her illusionment with Mr. Rochester and the likelyhood that he would reject her.
A: "He made me love him without looking at me." Pg. 177
I: Jane continues to tell her feelings toward Mr. Rochester. She says that she did not intend to love him but that she just fell for him. She cannot control her feelings toward him. She even compared Mr. Rochester with the rest of the men that had visited and noted that the other men were nothing compared to his master in her opinion. There may be a chance that Jane will try to get closer to Mr. Rochester if she can find the opportunity.
A: "a great lady, who scorned to touch me with the hem of her robes as she passed, who, if ever her dark and imperious eye fell on me by chance, would withdraw it instantly as an object too mean to merit observation."
I: By this time, Jane begins to realize that she does not like the attitude of the high class like miss Ingram. Miss Ingram was supposedly the chosen bride for Mr. Rochester, but Jane strongly disagrees with his decision because she knows that Miss Ingram does not have the qualities to make Mr. Rochester happy. Jane claims that there is no possible love between them. She criticizes how miss Ingram would prefer to not have any connection with anyone who is of lower class than she is, like Jane. Miss Ingram will probably become another antagonist in the story because she can compete with Jane for Mr. Rochester's love.
A: "But as matters really stood, to watch Mrs. Ingram's efforts at fascinating Mr. Rochester; to witness their repeated failure, herself unconscious that they did fail; vainly fancying that each shoft launched, hit the mark, and infatuately plumbing herself on success, when her pride and self-complacency repelled further and further what she wished to allure-to witness this, was to be at once under ceaseless excitation and ruthless restraint." Pg. 188
I: Jane analyses how Miss Ingram makes many attempst to appeal Mr. Rochester and fails without being conscious of it. She criticizes the intelligence of Miss Ingram for not realizing that Mr. Rochester does not love her. It can be infered that later, Mr. Rochester will decide not to marry Miss Ingram and so she will be heartbroken and want revenge.
Chapter 19
A: "One unexpected sentence came from her lips after another, till I got involved in a web of mystification; and wondered what unseen spirit had been sitting for weeks by my heart wathcing its workings, and takaing record of every pulse." Pg. 201
I: Jane was talking to the gypsy who could supposedly tell the future of people. Jane began to be confused by the things that she said and started to suspect of her questions and knoledge. It laver resulted that the gypsy was Mr. Rochester himself. This tells how Jane really does have feelings for Mr. Rochester because she had recognized it was him without him revealing himself. Mr. Rochester probably also has feelings for Jane because he asked her that question in order to supposedly tell Jane her future.
A: "The flame flickers in the eye; the eye shines like dew; it looks soft and full of feeling; it smiles at my jargon: it is susceptible; impression folows impression though its cleas shere, where it ceases to smile, it is sad; an unconscious latitude weighs on the lid: that signifies melancholy resulting fom loneliness." Pg. 202
I: A gypsy woman is telling Jane her fortune for the future. She tells Jane that she sees loneliness in her eyes. The gypsy woman has probably figured out that Jane is suffering for not being able to express her love to Mr. Rochester. The gypsy understands that Jane must be feeling sad for being alone.
Chapter 20
A: "To live, for me, Jane is to stand on a crater-crust which may crack and spue fire any day." Pg. 218
I: Mr. Rochester explains about some problems that can cause him to fall down any day. He seems to be hiding something from Jane. The dealings with Mason seem suspicious since Mr. Rochester did not want anyone to see him in his house by morning.
Chapter 21
A: "I knew by her stony eye - opaque to tenderness, indissoluable to tears - that she was resolved to consider me bad to the last; because to believe me good, would give her no generous pleasure: only a sense of mortification." Pg. 233
I: Jane describes how she feels that Mrs. Reed still rejects her even though she had called to see her befor she would die. She may experience the old feelings of rejection that she had throughout her child hood wile living with Mrs. Reed.
Chapter 24
A: "He stood between me and every thought of religion, as an elipse intervenes between man and the broad sun. I could not, in those days, see God for his creature of whom I made an idol." Pg.276
I: Jane had fallen so much in love with Mr. Rochester but was not completely certain that she wanted to marry him. She did not like his comment that they would live and die together, since she wanted to live her life however she would like. She wanted to only die when it was her time to do so. She had thought of Mr. Rochester as an idol but not any more.
Chapter 26
A: "Bertha Mason is mad; and she came of a mad family; - idiots and maniacs through three generations! Her mother, the Creole was both mad woman and a drunkard!" Pg. 294
I: Mr. Rochester confesses that he had a wife for many years locked up in the attic because she was mentally challenged. It was right after Jane and Mr. Rochester were about to be married. He tries to justify himself by saying that he was the victim because she had turned mad in an instant. Jane may not be able to forgive Mr. Rochester for betraying and lying to her. It will change the course of the story.
A: "Me she had dispensed from joining the group, saying, "she regretted to bi under the necessity of keeping me at a distance"- "she really must exclude me from priviledges intended only for contented, happy little children""pg.9
I: A forshadowing that Jane Eyre will not have good relations with the family. She may get kicked out of the house. The other children may hate her.
A: "He bullied and punished me; not two or three times in a week, nor once or twice in a day, but continually: every nerve I had feared him, and every morsel of flesh shrank when he came near." Pg. 12
I: John Reed is a terrible boy. He may become to be the nightmare of Jane. He, as well as his mother and sisters are probably the antagonists of the story.
A: "Wiked and cruel boy!" I said. "You are like a murderer - you are like a slave-driver - you are like the Roman emperors!" Pg. 13
I: Jane was tired of her oppression and decided to finally stand up for herself. She may then decide to stand for herself against Mrs. Reed and the rest of the family until she is then kicked out of the house. This act may contribute to some courage.
Chapter 2
A: Mr. Reed had been dead nine years: it was in this chamber he breathed his las; here he lay in state; hence his coffin was borne by the undertaker's men; and, since that day, a sense of dreary consecration had guarded it from frequent intrusion." Pg. 16
I: Because Mr. Reed had died in that chamber, no one really went into it unless it was to be cleaned. Mrs. Reed probably did not have much respect for Mr. Reed because she had Jane be locked up in his chamber as punishment. There is also some sort of mystery in the room since it is kept undisturbed since Mr. Reed had died.
A: "All looked colder and darker in that visionary than in reality: and the strange little figure there gazing at me, with a white face and arms specking the gloom, and glittering eyes of fear moving where all else was still, had the effect of a real spirit: I thought it like one of the tiny phantoms, half fairy, half imp, Bessie's evening stories represented as coming up out of lone, ferny dells in moors, and appearing before the eyes of belated travellers. I returned to may stool." Pg. 16
I: Bessie's stories gave Jane a superstition that spirits and ghosts probably did exist. Jane thought that because Mr. Reed had died in that chamber that there probably was left something of him like a spirit or some kind of magic.
A: "instigated some strange expedient to achieve escape from insupportable opression- as running away, or, for that could not be effected, never eating or drinking more, and letting myself die." Pg. 17
I: Jane probably lost all hope of living a good life in the future. Because she is being opressed so much, she grows tired of it and would rather die. Shows that she may be weak in character.
Chapter 3
A: "Poverty looks grim to old people, still more so to children: they have not much idea of industrious, working, respectable poverty; the think of the word as connected with ragged clothes, scanty food, fireless grates, rude manners, and debasing voices: poverty for me was synonymous with degradation" Pg. 26
I: Jane, although she is in constant opression, seems influenced by the family's high rank of living because she could not imagine herself living with poor people, even if they were kind. it is ironic in her position because she is treated as a poor person herself.
Chapter 4
A: "I deliberated a moment; my answer, when it did come, was objectionable: "I must keep in good health and not die"". Pg. 34
I: Jane said this when she was asked what she would do because it seems she would go to hell when she would die because of her wickedness. She seems to not take manners seriously and mocks people.
A: "I am not deceitful: if i were, I shuld say i loved you, but I declare I do not love you: I dislike you the worst of any body in the world exept John Reed; and this book about the liar, you may give to hour girl, Georgiana, for it is she who tell lies, and not I." Pg. 38
I: Jane Eyre, after confronting Mrs. Reed, may end up in a lot of trouble. She may surely be kicked out of the house now.
A: "How dare I, Mrs. Reed? How dare I? Because it is the truth. You think I have no feelings, and that I con do without one bit of love or kindness; but I cannot live so: and you have no pity." Pg. 39
I: Jane defends her position on standing up for herself. Ms. Reed may give Jane more respect but it is not likely, since she only cares about her own children. By standing up for herself, Jane may not be as oppressed as she used to be.
Chapter 5
A: "I saw one teacher take a basin of the porridge and taste it; she looked at the others; all their contenances expressed displeasure, and one of them, the stout one, whispered:-"Abomiable stuff! How shamefull!."" Pg. 48
I: The school has very bad conditions and Jane may have to learn the hard way how poverty can affect the life of a person. Jane had been oppresed at Mrs. Reed's house, but she had luxuries that the school does not have to offer. It may change Jane's outlook in what is really important in life.
Chapter 9
A: "Many, already smitten, went home to die: some died at the school, and were buried quietly and quickly, the nature of the malady forbidding delay." Pg. 79
I: Maybe Jane or Helen may get sick and have a terrible ending. The presence of death and sickness may impact Jane.
A: "but a day or two afterwards I learned that Miss Temple, on returning to her own room at dawn, had found me laid in a little crib; my face against Helen Brun's shoulder, my armes round her neck. I was asleep, and Helen was - dead."
I: Jane can get emotionally impacted with the death of her dear friend Helen. Without her, she may start to feel lonely at the school and suffer. she may have to live in isolation for the rest of the time she spends there, since she does not communicate with any of the other girls.
Chapter 10
A: "From the day she left I was no longer the same: with her was gone every settled feeling, every assocation that had made Lowood in some degree a home for me". Pg 87
I: With miss Temple away, Jane might have a hard time because she was close to her and did not really like any of the other teachers. She may now want to get out of the school. It can contribute to her isolation because she does not have a good communication with anyone else.
A: "I desired for liberty; for liberty I gasped; for liberty I uttered a prayer; it seemed scattered on the wind then faintly blowing." Pg. 88
I: Jane might try anything to finally get out of the school because she shows her desperate feelings to get out and have some liberty.
Chapter 11
A: "My heart really warmed to the worthy lady as I heard her talk; and I drew my chair a little nearer to her, and expressed my sincire with that she might find my compay as agreeable as the anticipated." Pg 100
I: Jane is going to try hard so that she can feel that she has some sort of new family in the house that she is going to serve. She wants to have really good relations with Mrs. Fairfax especially since she appeared to be a very good woman.
Chapter 12
A: "It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquility: they must have actions; and they will make it if they cannot find it." Pg. 112
I: Althoug Jane was much better of in Mr. Rochester's house than anywhere she had been, she felt that she still needed some kind of freedom or action. She says that people will tend to make the action themselves if they cannot find it, which can mean that Jane may be up to something.
A: "It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced for their sex." Pg. 113
I: Jane is criticizing the society she lives in because women are limited in many things. she does not like it how women are only limited to working inside a house. it is not fair to her that men have much more power and say than women have at this time.
A: "You play a little, I see; like any other English-girl: perhaps rather better than some, but not well." Pg. 127
I: Mr. Rochester tests the knowledge of Jane. He critizises but compliments her ability to play the piano at the same time. He expects that most girls are probably all the same. Jane at this time shows what she had learned at Lowood and so Mr. Rochester asks to see her portfolio of drawings that she had done. The reader can infere that Mr. Rochester probably expects much out of his employees, espedcially of Jane since she is Adele's teacher.
A: "When I was as old as you, I was a feeling fellow enough; partial to the unfledged, unfostered, and unlucky; but fortune has knocked me about since: she has even kneaded me with her knucles, and now I flatter myself I am as hard and tough as an India-rubber ball" P. 135
I: Mr. Rochester tells Jane her story about how fate had made him a hard person in character. He feels that he will not be able to be like a normal person any more. Jane will probably give him more hope, since Mr. Rochester likes to talk with her. there is also a simile involved in which he compares himself to a india-rubber ball.
A: "Besides, since happiness is irrebocably denied me, I have a right to get pleasure out of life: and I will get it, cost what it may."
I: Mr. Rochester is a man that feels that in his life, he has not really experienced true happiness. He thinks that he deserves a pleasure in life and would do anything possible to get it. This shows Mr. Rochester's desperate feelings. It also gives the assumption that Mr. Rochester may think that happiness may be obtained by having money.
Chapter 15
A: "When I was my charmer thus come accompanied by a cavelier, I seemed to hear a hiss, and the green snake of jealousy, rising on undulating coils from the moonlit balcony, glided within my waistcoat, and ate its way two minutes to my heart's core."
I: Mr. Rochester tells his story of love to Jane. In it he tells her how he became so jealous when he saw a man acompany the woman that he loved. That woman was the mother of Adele, but Mr. Rochester did not consider her as his daughter even though she was. Mr. Rochester's confidence on Jane seems strong because he shared one of his most personal story with her.
Chapter 16
A: "That a greater fool than Jane Eyre had never breathed the breath of life: that more fantastic idiot had never furfeited herself on sweet lies, and swallowed poison as if it were nectar." Pg. 162
I: Jane seems to realize that in her position, it is not likely that Mr. Rochester would really like her as a woman. She starts to have feelings for him and so can not control her feelings toward him. In this quote she is compared to a "fantastic idiot" in which she realizes how ignorant and immature she is to be thinking of Mr. Rochester in an emotional way.
A: " Ill tell you how to manage so as to avoid the embarrasment of making a formalen entrance, which is the most disagreeable part of the business." Pg. 171
I: In this quote, Mrs. Fairfax told Jane that when looked by the high class of people, she should avoid to look bad because it would be a big shame. This shows how important the way someone looked and what social class they belonged to was very important during this time period. Jane will probably not be able to coexist withe the higher classes because she is very different from them.
A: "They dispursed about the room; reminding me, by the lightness and bouyancy of thier movements, of a flock of white plumy birds." Pg. 173
I: In this quote, Jane compares the group of invited people that were going to stay for a while at Mr. Rochester's house to white plumy birds. She is not used to being around a group of individuals that are so different from her. As she observes the people she sees how they just move around in the room and talking to themselves.
A: "a pleasure like what the thirst-perishing man might feel who knows the well to which he has cript is poisoned, yet stops and drinks diving draughts nonetheless." Pg.176
I: At this time of the story, Jane has not doubt that she has strong feelings toward Mr. Rochester. She can not stop looking at him and complimenting him. She knows that he would not be likely to corespond to her but at least has pleasure on looking at him. In the quote, she is compared to a thirst-perishing man who knows the well to which he has cript is poisoned, yet stops and drinks a lot of the water. The poison, in Jane's case would be her illusionment with Mr. Rochester and the likelyhood that he would reject her.
A: "He made me love him without looking at me." Pg. 177
I: Jane continues to tell her feelings toward Mr. Rochester. She says that she did not intend to love him but that she just fell for him. She cannot control her feelings toward him. She even compared Mr. Rochester with the rest of the men that had visited and noted that the other men were nothing compared to his master in her opinion. There may be a chance that Jane will try to get closer to Mr. Rochester if she can find the opportunity.
A: "a great lady, who scorned to touch me with the hem of her robes as she passed, who, if ever her dark and imperious eye fell on me by chance, would withdraw it instantly as an object too mean to merit observation."
I: By this time, Jane begins to realize that she does not like the attitude of the high class like miss Ingram. Miss Ingram was supposedly the chosen bride for Mr. Rochester, but Jane strongly disagrees with his decision because she knows that Miss Ingram does not have the qualities to make Mr. Rochester happy. Jane claims that there is no possible love between them. She criticizes how miss Ingram would prefer to not have any connection with anyone who is of lower class than she is, like Jane. Miss Ingram will probably become another antagonist in the story because she can compete with Jane for Mr. Rochester's love.
A: "But as matters really stood, to watch Mrs. Ingram's efforts at fascinating Mr. Rochester; to witness their repeated failure, herself unconscious that they did fail; vainly fancying that each shoft launched, hit the mark, and infatuately plumbing herself on success, when her pride and self-complacency repelled further and further what she wished to allure-to witness this, was to be at once under ceaseless excitation and ruthless restraint." Pg. 188
I: Jane analyses how Miss Ingram makes many attempst to appeal Mr. Rochester and fails without being conscious of it. She criticizes the intelligence of Miss Ingram for not realizing that Mr. Rochester does not love her. It can be infered that later, Mr. Rochester will decide not to marry Miss Ingram and so she will be heartbroken and want revenge.
Chapter 19
A: "One unexpected sentence came from her lips after another, till I got involved in a web of mystification; and wondered what unseen spirit had been sitting for weeks by my heart wathcing its workings, and takaing record of every pulse." Pg. 201
I: Jane was talking to the gypsy who could supposedly tell the future of people. Jane began to be confused by the things that she said and started to suspect of her questions and knoledge. It laver resulted that the gypsy was Mr. Rochester himself. This tells how Jane really does have feelings for Mr. Rochester because she had recognized it was him without him revealing himself. Mr. Rochester probably also has feelings for Jane because he asked her that question in order to supposedly tell Jane her future.
A: "The flame flickers in the eye; the eye shines like dew; it looks soft and full of feeling; it smiles at my jargon: it is susceptible; impression folows impression though its cleas shere, where it ceases to smile, it is sad; an unconscious latitude weighs on the lid: that signifies melancholy resulting fom loneliness." Pg. 202
I: A gypsy woman is telling Jane her fortune for the future. She tells Jane that she sees loneliness in her eyes. The gypsy woman has probably figured out that Jane is suffering for not being able to express her love to Mr. Rochester. The gypsy understands that Jane must be feeling sad for being alone.
Chapter 20
A: "To live, for me, Jane is to stand on a crater-crust which may crack and spue fire any day." Pg. 218
I: Mr. Rochester explains about some problems that can cause him to fall down any day. He seems to be hiding something from Jane. The dealings with Mason seem suspicious since Mr. Rochester did not want anyone to see him in his house by morning.
Chapter 21
A: "I knew by her stony eye - opaque to tenderness, indissoluable to tears - that she was resolved to consider me bad to the last; because to believe me good, would give her no generous pleasure: only a sense of mortification." Pg. 233
I: Jane describes how she feels that Mrs. Reed still rejects her even though she had called to see her befor she would die. She may experience the old feelings of rejection that she had throughout her child hood wile living with Mrs. Reed.
Chapter 24
A: "He stood between me and every thought of religion, as an elipse intervenes between man and the broad sun. I could not, in those days, see God for his creature of whom I made an idol." Pg.276
I: Jane had fallen so much in love with Mr. Rochester but was not completely certain that she wanted to marry him. She did not like his comment that they would live and die together, since she wanted to live her life however she would like. She wanted to only die when it was her time to do so. She had thought of Mr. Rochester as an idol but not any more.
Chapter 26
A: "Bertha Mason is mad; and she came of a mad family; - idiots and maniacs through three generations! Her mother, the Creole was both mad woman and a drunkard!" Pg. 294
I: Mr. Rochester confesses that he had a wife for many years locked up in the attic because she was mentally challenged. It was right after Jane and Mr. Rochester were about to be married. He tries to justify himself by saying that he was the victim because she had turned mad in an instant. Jane may not be able to forgive Mr. Rochester for betraying and lying to her. It will change the course of the story.
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