“The brightest light moving away from us, unless it be reflected, is darkness to us.”

The Alchemist/Julius Caesar

Essay Reflection

Hand with Reflecting Sphere - M.C. Escher
Ideas and Content-
In my essay about Santiago from the “Alchemist” I have tried my best at the time. Though work, I was constantly distracted as it was word-processed and thus didn’t spend as much time preparing for it as my “Julius Caesar Essay. Even thought we had more time to prepare and write the Alchemist Essay, they have about the same amount of content. In the Alchemist essay I wrote of ideas that were about the same such as confidence, adaptability, and adventurous traits. In my Julius Caesar essay I have written about greed, power, and ambition. I have changed throughout time as I have started picking traits that are different and not just synonyms with little difference.

Organization-
The start of the organization of you essay starts in you thesis statement. Ordering them in my thesis helped me to write the essay thoroughly. Another way I used proper organization, is when I tried to place my quotes thoughtfully into my paragraphs. I had to properly introduce, and explain the quote in order to have the reader understand why the quote shows significance. In my Alchemist Essay I placed the quote and didn’t explain why it showed significance. I have done better in my Julius Caesar essay, but could have explained more if not for the time limit.

Personal Growth-
To myself, I think I have improved a lot since my Alchemist essay. Reflecting back, I have improved on expanding my ideas before moving on to the next. Even though we had less time to do the Julius Caesar essay, I feel that my writing and preparation has improved so much as to the pressure of the small time limit.

SLR’s-
The SLR I would chose to represent this work would be learning enthusiastically. I had to learn enthusiastically to be able to want to improve on my work. While working on these essays I learned enthusiastically to gain the knowledge needed to do the essays.

Et Tu, Brute

Power Leads To Corruption

“If thou beest not immortal, look about you: security gives way to conspiracy.” Scene II Act III lines 5-7

A lust for power will often lead people wandering towards evil and corruption. A recurring theme in Julius Caesar is corruption. As Rome continues to thrive, there is a shift in power as Caesar is slain and the Conspirators learn the consequences of assassinating Caesar and how their envy of Caesar overcame them. Power leads to corruption, and Caesar filled with greed and ambition led himself to his own demise. These qualities left him oblivious to reality as those without authority often crave power. Through his actions and how he shows himself both publicly and privately, it is a significant flaw in which Shakespeare chooses to detail.

Caesar’s greed for power left him feeble to those who would take advantage of this. As a private flaw, the greed in Caesar made him willing, and arrogant, as he would choose what was best for him, and not what is best for Rome. Caesar carries this trait as he stands up as a leader to Rome and once in power, craved more. As his authority grew, so did his greed. An example of his greed is when Decius says the Senate will offer him the crown, as Decius knew Caesar’s greed would cloud his thinking. “Decius “The Senate have concluded to give this day a crown to mighty Caesar. If you shall send them word you will not come, Their minds may change.”… Caesar “How foolish do your fears seem now, Calpurnia! I am ashamed I did yield to them” Act II Scene II Lines 93-96 105-106. Caesar would not give up the opportunity to become king. He swiftly changed his mind as he seizes every chance he can get to improve status in Rome. This quotation shows how Caesar can quickly change his mind, and then blaming Calpurnia for ever trying to restrain him. The power he could gain from becoming king motivated him into going to Capitol, and led him into the devious plan of the Conspirators. Caesar ignored the warnings before him, such as Calpurnia’s dream of chaos and the augurers finding no heart in an animal, as a rise in power clouded his thoughts. Shakespeare constantly shows the flaws of his characters as Caesar is commonly shown as egotistic and greedy. Another time he is shown in the play as greedy is when he celebrates his victory over Pompey over the feast of Lupercal. This is to show his importance to the public, as he is better than any holiday. Flavius states “So do you too, where you perceive them thick. These growing feathers pluck’d from Caesar’s wing will make him fly an ordinary pitch, who else would soar above the view of men and keep us all in servile fearfulness.” Act I Scene I Lines 72-76. This states that the commoners of Rome should try and take down Caesar before he becomes a treat. This also characterizes Caesar as a greedy person as if he were to gain power he would use it keep himself in luxury and make the villagers work for him. Greed can be called a flaw or a gift; it motivated Caesar to gain his power, but also led him into danger and death.

Where ambition is found, danger is sure to follow. Caesar has chosen to keep his ambition to himself, veiling it whenever he is shown in the public. He chooses to do this, as he knows ambition would surely decline his public image, in which he tries hard to retain. Caesar is motivated by his ambitions only because of his greed. Without the will for power, he would have never achieved it. This affects his actions as he would try to veil his ambition whenever out in public. He would have to choose between showing his care for Rome or his care for himself. He tries to hide his ambitions but the Conspirators look through this and try to reveal Caesar for what he truly is. Caesar’s ambitions also changed how he would react to things. As an example he faints as he mistakes the crowd for booing at him rather than praising him. He faints because if the crowd were to hate him, than all his dreams of power would be crushed and broken. “Marry, before he fell down, when he perceiv’d the common herd was glad he refus’d the crown, he pluck’d me ope his doublet and offer’d them his throat to cut.” Act I Scene II lines 256-258. Caesar offers his head to the people, as he could never live without the luxury of power. Since his ambition motivates him, loosing his power would crush his personal character. Caesar has many traits that should be in a leader, but also carries many traits that would hinder his leadership.

Power leads to corruption, and thus Caesar wouldn’t have been a noble leader. His greed and ambition hindered and helped him throughout his journey. Greed led him to kill Pompey, but also led him to aim too high. Ambition led him to sly, swift actions, but also led him to become a victim of assassination. In the end he was killed for the right reasons and would never lead Rome again. But as he died, Antony took over his place, carrying on his legacy. Caesar’s achievements were carried on in Antony, and because of this he was able to have his name glorified throughout history. Caesars goal for having his name carried throughout history was achieved, this goal was noble to him, but his victory was short lived as power leads to corruption.

Pic Source: http://maftuhnurakhmad.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/julius-caesar-2.jpg

The Same World at Peace

In humanities we have been recently making collages about the Lost Boys of Sudan, and while doing this we needed skill and values in order to do a good job. We needed think creatively, reason critically, communicate effectively and live ethically. In order to think creatively I needed to decorate my collage accordingly. An example of this is when I put the various words form different sources to make up my 6-word memoir stand out. I have also arranged the images around certain words to emphasize the word’s meanings.

To reason critically I have used the organization of images to highlight the understanding of the Lost Boy’s conflicts. An example of this is how I used the images of war, corruption and migration to show the Lost Boy’s journey. Other examples are the use of different war torn images to show how the Lost Boy’s have been though the worst and have a devastating past.

Another one of the things I had to focus on was how to communicate my message clearly to the audience. My message was that the world has to unite and that without unity war and conflict take over. To communicate this I put the depressing images of war and violence around the images of peace. This let lets the world see how dangerous the world is and how innocent people are dying.

To live ethically, we need to empathize with the Lost Boys. Putting the images of war in my collage allowed me to let the audience see how the world is being consumed in war and how we can help by doing something little. This incites them to act as they feel sorrow for those who hade their lives corrupted by the menace of war.

Pic Source: http://www.danplesch.net/UN/ww0207-87.jpg

Lost Boys Found In a New World

Peter Dut

The Lost Boys of Sudan have a complicated history. They have been through war and have safely lived through it all. Sudan has been through a civil war, which lasted 20 years, ending in 2005. From transferring from Sudan to various parts of America, The Lost Boys have completely changed their cultural understanding and had difficulty adapting to the average lifestyle of Americans. One of the lost boys is named Peter “Nyarol” Dut, who has seen the horrors of war and lived. He is now living safely in America, though he has had some difficulty adapting to the life of America. Through his travels he has gained education and is now ready to take on the world alone.

Though they faced many difficulties due to the change in culture, one of the hardest things to adapt to is making new friends. Peter arrived in Houston, Texas with Santino, another one of The Lost Boys, but later moved away to pursue his career and education. He moved to Kansas where he was a new senior in school trying to balance work and education into his busy schedule. In his busy life he had some time to socialize, he felt lonely and new to the American culture. He had tried out for a basketball team and joined a church group, but he still felt different. He was use to the Sudanese lifestyle and thus though he was left out of social groups. An example of this is when Peter is in church youth group, and he is the only one not singing while he is also sitting in the back row. Although many people didn’t accept Peter for what he is, the ones that did found out about his tragic past and how he is hoping for a new, wonderful life.

Culture shock is the feeling of fright and confusion when dealing with another culture which is entirely different from your own. Peter Dut dealt with culture shock well, but also gained many stereotypes from observing the American culture. He was able to use much of the technology after a while, but at first did not understand how most of the everyday items worked. An instant of this is when he did not know how the airplane food should have been eaten, eating things differently then normal. This happened just prior to arriving in America. To adjust to the American society, Peter observed the everyday life of Americans and then applied it to himself to be able to adapt to the American culture.

Brutus's Inner Conflict

Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

Cassius tries to sway Brutus, telling him he is trustworthy and loyal. Cassius tells Brutus that of the wonderful qualities of him, being his mirror, he is able to tell him of how others see him, as loyal, noble, honorable, and just. Prior to this Caesar celebrates his victory over Pompey during the Feast of Lupercal. The plot of the book is started as this sets the story for the rest of the book. Cassius starts the conspirators as Brutus leads it, causing the downfall of Caesar. This sets the plot of the book and causes the many tragedies that happen later in the book. Another important part of this passage is that this is the first characterization of both Brutus and Cassius, showing Cassius’ cunning, and deceptiveness, and showing Brutus’ inner conflict.

Act I Scene II Lines 25-27

CASSIUS

Will you go see the order of the course?

BRUTUS

Not I.

CASSIUS

I pray you, do.

BRUTUS

I am not gamesome: I do lack some part
Of that quick spirit that is in Antony.
Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires;
I'll leave you.

CASSIUS

Brutus, I do observe you now of late:
I have not from your eyes that gentleness
And show of love as I was wont to have:
You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand
Over your friend that loves you.

BRUTUS

Cassius,
Be not deceived: if I have veil'd my look,
I turn the trouble of my countenance
Merely upon myself. Vexed I am
Of late with passions of some difference,
Conceptions only proper to myself,
Which give some soil perhaps to my behaviors;
But let not therefore my good friends be grieved--
Among which number, Cassius, be you one--
Nor construe any further my neglect,
Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war,
Forgets the shows of love to other men.

CASSIUS

Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion;
By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried
Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations.
Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face?

BRUTUS

No, Cassius; for the eye sees not itself,
But by reflection, by some other things.

CASSIUS

'Tis just:
And it is very much lamented, Brutus,
That you have no such mirrors as will turn
Your hidden worthiness into your eye,
That you might see your shadow. I have heard,
Where many of the best respect in Rome,
Except immortal Caesar, speaking of Brutus
And groaning underneath this age's yoke,
Have wish'd that noble Brutus had his eyes.

BRUTUS

Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius,
That you would have me seek into myself
For that which is not in me?

CASSIUS

Therefore, good Brutus, be prepared to hear:
And since you know you cannot see yourself
So well as by reflection, I, your glass,
Will modestly discover to yourself
That of yourself which you yet know not of.
And be not jealous on me, gentle Brutus:
Were I a common laugher, or did use
To stale with ordinary oaths my love
To every new protester; if you know
That I do fawn on men and hug them hard
And after scandal them, or if you know
That I profess myself in banqueting
To all the rout, then hold me dangerous.

My partner is Sang Yoon

Interpreting History

The School of Athens by Raphael

:The School of Athens" painted by Raphael shows how art both mimics and helps society grow. Like most paintings of the renaissance, the painting reflects a real life object or event and not something abstract. Historians can take apart this primary source from the renaissance to help us decipher the past. The school of Athens shows many philosophers and important figures from history such as Ptolemy, Alexander the Great, etc. The painting contains real people who lived throughout history and help progress our knowledge of the universe. Artistic minds such as Raphael painted history in which helped record the many events and people that carried on the renaissance.

If I were part of the fresco "The School of Athens" I would be the philosopher Ptolemy. He stands at the bottom right corner of the painting holding an orb. Ptolemy was born in Egypt 90AD, he studied astronomy and came up with the Ptolemy theory which claimed that the earth was the center of the universe. Though he was wrong his theory was supported by the Catholic Church for over 1400 years. Like Ptolemy I would like to study astronomy and help advance the knowledge of our universe. Making an impact in the world and standing out to generations to come. Using modern tools I wish to improve upon the foundation of the universe. Though this will be a challenging task, Ptolemy stands as idol for individualism and the world of science.

A Rare Combination of Genius

“For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return.” –Leonardo Da Vinci

Leonardo Da Vinci was a man ahead of his time, coming up with ideas that would change the world and its perspective. He had ideas which revolutionized the renaissance. The ideas of flying machines and movable bridges were some of his ideas which were never thought of until he came along. The work he did was kept in a notebook, though he had clever ideas, only a few of them were ever built. He had designs for machines that were ahead of his time and perhaps even ours. He designed the first tank, ball bearings, catapults, and various other objects. Despite being an inventor Da Vinci also had interest in art and architecture. He would spend time practicing until he could paint masterpieces.
Leonardo was an apprentice to the artist Andrea del Florence when he was 17. Da Vinci was famous for paintings such as the “Last Supper” mural, and the Mona Lisa. Leonardo Da Vinci, a rare combination of an artist and scientist, will continue to inspire the many cultures of the world.

Leonardo Da Vinci's Flying Machine

Pic Source:http://ened.tistory.com/archive/200805