Animal Farm Ch.9 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
12-4-12

Chapter 9

Summary: In chapter 9, rations were reduced again and all the young piglets are trained by Napoleon and any animal who meets a pig on the path must step aside for the pig. Pigs are also allowed to wear green ribbons on Sunday. The field was full of barley all for the pigs and the once a week Sponetaneous Demonstartion was put into place. Boxer falls when hauling a rock and is driven the "hospital" (the knacker's). At the end of the chapter, the pigs receive another box of whisky.

Quotation: "'Comrades, comrades!' they shouted. 'Don't take your own brother to his death!' But the stupid brutes, too ignorant to realise what was happening, merely set back their ears and quickened their pace" (114).

Quotation Significance: The aniamls say this as the horses and the driver are taking away Boxer to be cut up and killed for horse meat. They are telling the animals to rebel against the humans and not listen to what they have to say. What is ironic is that Napoleon is sending them to death by the way that he is treating them. They don't realize it but they are being treated worse than when they had Jones.

Reflection: Napoleon has now even more control. He is conversing freely with humans. The only commandment he has not broken is "All animals are equal". But it is easy to predict that this commandment will eventually be broken as well. In fact it is almost borken when the other animals haveto move aside for hte pigs when they are walking down a path and they meet up. I find it hard that someone hasn't really spoken up. It is obvious that Benjamin knows what is going on and either doesn't care or knows what will happen if he doesn't obey the rules. Either way, Napoleon is getting away with being a ruthless tyrant and no one now is trying to stop him at all. Animal Farm directly comapres with the Russian Revolution. Marx, the man who invented Communism is Old Major.  Jones is the old Czar (ruler) and the last ruler of Animal Farm before the Animals take it over and replace his way with Animalism. Napoleon is Stalin (ruler of new Communism governement) because he is the ruler of the Animal Farm and exiles his co-ruler, Snowball (Trotsky). Snowball and Trotsky also believed in Animalism and Communism. Stalin and Napoleon basically pretended they di and then corrupted the system.  When Boxer is sent to the knacker's he will be chopped up for horse meat and dog food. Napoleon obviously did this to receive money so he wouldn't have to keep caring for Boxwer and feeding him for more and more years. Squealer comes up with a lie and tells the animals that Boxer was really at the hospital and that he couldn't be saved. Next I think that the pigs will become so much like the humans that soon they won't be able to tell the difference between the two species.

Discussion Question: How far do you think Napoleon will go for complete control of the farm? Do you think that the pigs will become the humans themselves?



Animal Farm Chapters 7-8 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
12-4-12

Chapters 7-8 

Summary: In chapter 7, a famine breaks out at the farm and the hens are required to give up their eggs to trade for other foods. The hens rebel this and they are not allowed any food, nine hens die and any animal that helps them will be executed. Snowball is framed for sneaking around the barn at night and working with Jones and the neighboring barns to take over Animal Farm. Napoleon held a meetings and countless animals were killed and confessed to working with Snowball or plotting against him. Then the song Beasts of England was abolished. In chapter 8, Napoleon is only seen once fortnight with a whole procession before him and guards. He had special quarters in the farmhouse and was always waited on. More animals came forward with crimes to murder Napoleon and Napoleon now has  taste-testers and more guards. The windmill is finished and named Napoleon Mill. The money paid for the timber is fake and Frederick has been pronounced to death. Frederick and fifteen men attack the farm and they blew up the windmill. The animals attacked them and won the battle. Napoleon and the pigs start to drink alcohol and catch Squealer changing the commandments to accommodate this. 

Quotation: " So Beasts of England was heard no more. In its place, Minimus, the poet, had composed another song which began: Animal Farm, Animal Farm, Never through me shalt thou come to harm! And this was sung every Sunday morning...But somehow neither the words nor the tune ever seemed to the animals to come up to Beasts of England" (86-87).

Quotation Significance: This is reflected by the animals once the Beasts of England song is abolished. This song stood for everything the animals stood for and now this is gone. They have no rights and this new song by Minimus doesn't justify the rights they should have which disappoints them. 

Reflection: Napoleon is now more in control then ever. Famines break out in the barn and food goes missing, and Snowball is blamed. I personally believe that Snowball is innocent and ran away because of a threat from Napoleon or seeing the damage that Napoleon is causing and decided he wanted to be a part of it. The hens don't want to give up their eggs and because of this they are allowed no rations and any animal who gives them food will be slaughtered. So far, the pigs have violated almost every single rule in Animal Farm and some of the animals catch Squealer changing some of the commandments in the barn because he has a ladder and a paint brush. The animals don't realize what this means however and let it slide. Whenever an animal protests a new rule Squealer is always abel to convince them that it is for the best and everything is much better than it was when Jones ran the farm. The animals agree reluctantly, only because of the dogs and they don't want to be killed by the pigs. They are starting to have suspicions of what is really going on at the farm but they don't have sufficient memory or skills to do this correctly. The pigs are smart and now how to "beat around the bush" and lie when it comes to the other animals and they know that these animals are easily persuaded. During the meeting when dozens of animals were slaughtered, it makes the animals who are still alive worry about their own future and Napoleon has no basically become the king/dictator of Animal Farm. He swore to never drink, kill animals, sleep in beds, be equal with other animals, and never live in the farmhouse. He has violated all the rules he helped to make in the first place. With using trickery and cunning tactics he has turned everyone against Snowball, who is most likely innocent, so everyone will look to him to save them. This is a tactic used with types of government to gain trust and they slowly trick and use cunning strategies to bend and twist the truth until no one remembers the truth anymore (the old commandments). 

Discussion Question: Do you think that some of the animals will try and stand up to Napoleon? How will they accomplish this?

Animal Farm Chapters 5-6 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
12-3-12

Chapters 5-6

Summary: In chapter 5, there is a dispute between Snowball and Napoleon whether to build a windmill to generate power for the farm. Mollie disappears to a neighboring farm. The nine dogs that Napoleon had raised attacked Snowball and ran him off the farm and he never returned. With Napoleon in charge it was announced that the pigs would make all farm decisions, and that the windmill would be made after all. Napoleon opposed it  because Snowball had stolen Napoleon's ideas in the first place. In chapter 6, work on Sunday has been established, and started working on the windmill. However they were running out of supplies and traded with Mr. Whymper, and then the pigs moved into the farmhouse and slept on beds. During that winter, the windmill was destroyed and Snowball was blamed and he was officially sentenced to death.

Quotation: "You would not rob us of our repose, would you, comrades? You would not have us too tired to carry out our duties? Surely none of you wishes to see Jones back?" (70).

Quotation Significance: Squealer says this to Clover and Muriel who are looking at the seven commandments. Clover is one of the animals that is suspicious that the pigs are becoming more and more like greedy humans and Squealer basically justifies it by talking about having Jones back. Obviously this is not what the animals want so they are persuaded into obeying the pigs. 

Reflection: The pigs are really beginning to take over! It all starts when Snowball goes missing. Without someone to argue with Snowball and need votes to break their fights Napoleon can make all the decisions. He fought with Snowball over the windmill saying it would be useless. And now that Snowball is gone he wants to use these plans and win the animal's favor he says that they were his plans in the first place and Snowball stole them. I think that Napoleon just wanted to utilize the plans for the windmill and turn the animals against Snowball so if he comes back Napoleon will be in full control. When Napoleon announces that the pigs will make all the decisions some of the young porkers protest but Napoleon's dogs scare them. This happens several times when other animals try to speak up against Napoleon and I think he raised these dogs to enforce his rules and ensure no rebellions. This parallels to men and guns. Men use guns to enforce rules and protect themselves. This is exactly what Napoleon and his sidekick Squealer are doing. Now, work on Sunday has been established though it isn't technically mandatory if the animals don't particiapte their rations are cut in half. The pigs still have the apples and milk all to themselves and the pigs sleep in the house on beds. In the beginning of the story there is a strict law against it but one of the pigs changes it to say "We will never sleep on beds with sheets".  Since most of the animals aren't too smart, the believe Napoleon and now he has control over everything, food, the house, weapons, the government, and the animals themselves. Napoleon finds another chance to blame Snowball when the windmill is destroyed. Obviously this was the storm, a small pig couldn't wreck a huge windmill. But Napoleon is convincing and most likely has a pig lay false tracks to prove to the animals that the Napoleon is there for them and that Snowball is bad. This greatly compares with government. When two parties try to take over, they make cunning and sly plots to trick their people into going against the other party and choosing them. I think next Napoleon will press for more control and eventually animals will speak up. 

Discussion Question: Do you think that Napoleon is trying to sabotage Snowball?

Animal Farm Ch. 1-2 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
11-28-12

Chapters 1-2

Summary: In chapter 1, . Major (the wise pig) calls a meeting to discuss his dream he had.  He talks about a revolution for animals overthrowing humans.  Major states that animals live, short and hard lives and they do all the work to get nothing back from the humans and humans are enemies. Major then sings a song from his childhood he remembered in his dream t called Beasts of England (about the revolution). In chapter 2, Major dies in his sleep. The other pigs take over his place and they call Major's philosophy Animalism and have meetings about it. At this time, Mr. Jones forgot to feed the animals. Eventually one of the cows broke in the store-shed to eat. The men came and started to whip the animals and the cows chased the men off the farm. The animals now owned the farm. The animals all burned the instruments of torture and humility in the barn and ate and went to bed. The animals explore the farmhouse and decide no one will live there. The animals then write Animal Farm on the farm sign with paint. The animals then made 7 commandments they must all live by no matter what which are that animals are friends, humans are enemies, no animal will sleep on a bed, wear clothes, kill another animal, drink alcohol, and all animals are equal. After harvesting hay they came back to notice their milk had disappeared from earlier that day. 

Quotation: "And remember also that in fighting against man, we must not come to resemble him. Even when you have conquered him do not adopt his vices... All the habits of Man are evil." (21) 

Quotation Significance: This is Major talking the animals before he tells them the dream he has. He is saying that they must not become what a terrible thing that the man is, otherwise there would be no point in what they are trying to achieve.  He believes that men are evil and do not ever be evil like them

Reflection: So far, this story has been exciting. The animals are inspired by the ideas of Animalism and Major inspires them, and warns them to never become like man. It is obvious to see that the smartest animals at the farm are the pigs and I think that in the future the pigs will become the dictators of the farm. I think they will become the elite on the farm and become the very thing they were fighting for in the first place. I'm thinking that one of the pigs stole the milk and maybe drank it or stored it for later. I think that eventually the pigs might even move into the house and start making the other animals work for them and trick them into doing things or obeying them. With animals like Mollie, this would be easy. All they would have to do would be to entice her ribbons as rewards for obeying them. I think that this is a comparison to types of government like Communism. They have this small and cunning elite population (pigs) that surpresses the majority of the population and tricks them into working for their benefit. It starts with not forced control but with winning people over (Mollie?) and then making them work for them and making them do things for their benefit. Obviously, it seems like Major had an idea that this might happen and is warning them against it. 

Discussion Question: Do you think that the pigs are planning to take over the farm?

Tale of Two Cities Book 3 Ch. 13-15 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
11-26-12

Book 3 Chapters 13-15

Summary: In chapter 13, 52 people have been condemned to die. Carton visits Darnay and tricks him into switching clothes with him and Carton drugs Darnay with the chemical he bought from the chemist's shop. He orders Barsad to take Darnay to the carriage and Carton waits to be executed. Darnay takes Carton's papers and they all flee the city. In chapter 14, Madame Defarge goes to Lucie's apartment to try and catch her mourning for a prisoner (which is illegal) Miss Pross is discussing plans to leave Paris with Jerry Cruncher and he leaves when Madame Defarge comes in. The women fight and Miss Pross shoots Madame Defarge. In chapter 15, The Vengenance worries that Madame Defarge will miss the death of Darnay and when Carton is executed and has a peaceful look on his face and pictures a child of Darnay and Lucie with his name and pictures everyone being happy and Paris being peaceful yet again. 

Quotation: "I see a beautiful city and a brilliant people rising from this abyss, and, in their struggles to be truly free,... I see the evil of this time....gradually making expiation for itself and wearing out."   

Quotation Significance: This is what Carton is thinking of when he is being executed. He sees that people will rise from all the death and ashes and the evil draining away. He sees a future of peace and happiness for everyone.

Reflection: This is the end of Tale of Two Cities! This book was very exciting and came to a very exciting end! I would definitely read this book again and I give this book four stars! Carton decides to trick Darnay and sacrifice himself. He knows that Darnay has a huge life ahead of him and since the look alike Carton knows he can pull it off. Carton thinks he has accomplished nothing worthwhile in his life and that this would be his biggest contribution to the world and the happiness of Darnay, Lucie and their family. Carton thinks little of himself and he knows that this way he will be remembered as honorable by people after he is still dead and his memory will live on. Madame Defarge is dead and Miss Pross and Jerry are leaving Paris presumably to meet up with Darnay and Lucie. The fear of the aristocrats has been banished and people are rising to make the world good again and for the light to shine once more. Carton will be loved and cherished by Darnay and Lucie and they decide to most likely name a son after him and in Carton's last moments he sees this and is touched by this and will cherish this memory where he goes on to. All in all, this was a fantastic book with a fantastic ending and a twisting and very intriguing plot.

Discussion Question: Why did Carton sacrifice himself for Darnay/

Tale of Two Cities Book 3 Ch.5-8 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
11-19-1

Book 3 Chapters 5-8

Summary: In chapter 5, Lucie stands in town by the wood-sawyer store so that way Darnay can see her a couple hours of the day through the prison window in his cell. Lucie talks to the wood-sawyer and pretends that his saw is a guillotine. One day, a group of people do a horrible dance that was called the Carmagnole. The dancers leave and Manette arrives and comforts Lucie when Madame Defarge arrives and she salutes Manette. Manette tells Lucie that Darnay is going to be on trial tomorrow and will most likely win the case. In chapter 6, a crowd assembles for the trial. Darnay wins the case because he renounced his title because he didn't like how the peasants were being treated and because he is Manette's son-in-law. He is carried home in a chair on the shoulders of the cheering crowd. In chapter 7, Darnay is re-arrested under the accusations of the Defarges and a third person whom will be found out the next day.  In chapter 8,  at the same time, Miss Pross and Jerry find Miss Pross's long lost brother, Solomon, who is a spy for the rebels. He was the one who accused Darnay of treason and his other name he goes by is Barsad. Carton comes in and threatens to reveal his identity unless he takes them to Tellson's. Carton tells Jerry and Mr. Lorry that Darnay has been arrested again and tells them he has a plan if he is convicted. If Barsad doesn't cooperate then Carton will reveal him as an English spy. Carton says that he saw Barsad talking with the English spy, Roger Cly. Cly was supposedly dead but his death was faked. Barsad disagrees but agrees to help them get Darnay out of prison. 

Quotation:  "No fight could have been half so terrible as this dance. It was emphatically a fallen sport... a healthy pastime changed into a means of angering the blood, bewildering the senses, and steeling the heart."

Quotation Significance: This quote is when the dancers danceing to the Carmagnole do a dance around Lucie and when they fall, another group takes their place. This seems to me like a war, one group replacing the next who has died but this keeps going forever. I think that this is why this dance scared Lucie so much she had to be consoled by her father when it was over.

Reflection: In these four chapters, Darnay is almost saved, but has to go back to prison the next day. Darnay is relieved when he is released after this trial and thinks that maybe his nightmare his over. A nightmare that lasted a year and three months  He was subjected to many horrible things in prison. I couldn't imagine going through that and having to go back the next day. He would have to relive the memories and remember how close he was to actual freedom. Lucie is frightended and relieved when her husband is back because she has a feeling that they will take him again and they end up doing this very thing and the next day too! Lucie was devastated at this and it would be harder to imagine how his child, little Lucie was feeling. She knows something terrible is happening to her father and must be upset that she can't be around him. It is a huge moment when Miss Pross, Carton, and Cruncher find Solomon (Barsad), he convicted Darnay and Carton says that he will reveal him as an English spy if he doesn't help them. Barsad agrees because he doesn't want his cover blown. Carton has a plan to save Darnay and resuce him from prison if he is convicted for the new crime he was convicted of doing. He was accused by Mr. and Mr. Defarge and it isn't clear what he has supposedly done and a third person whose identity hasn't been revealed yet. I think next Darnay will be found guilty for his next crime and then Carton and everyone else will have to execute their plan to save him.

Discussion Question: Why are Mr. and Mrs. Defarge accusing Darnay and who do you think is the third person who accuses him?

Tale of Two Cities Book 2 Ch. 22-24 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
11-14-12

Book 2 Chapters 22-24

Summary: In chapter 22, Defarge says that the man Foulon has been captured, he said that that if people are starving that they should eat grass. Madame Defarge and a mob of women  find Foulon and a woman known only as The Vengeance. They  hang him on a lamp post  and they put his head on a pike and put grass in his mouth. . In chapter 23, the mender of the roads is working when a traveler comes up who is a Jacques. They exchange important info for something taking place that night.  That night, four people set the Marqui's house on fire and no one made an effort to stop it. In chapter 24, three years had gone by and the center of power of Monseigneur rests at Tellson's and England is a haven for aristocrats. Tellson's has decided to dispatch Lorry to Paris to protect valuables things from destruction. Darnay tells him not to go but Mr. Lorry goes with Jerry as his bodyguard. Lorry receives a letter for the new Marqui and Darnay opens it and reads it and it tells him to help Gabelle, who was imprisoned because he was upkeeping the Marqui estate and begs Darnay to save him so Darnay goes to Paris to help. 

Quotation: "The officers looked towards the soldiers who looked at the fire; gave no orders; and answered, with shrugs and biting of lips, 'It must burn.'"

Quotation Significance: This is what a soldier said when the found out that the Marqui house was burning and no one was going to help. Obviously, they think that the house deserves to burn after all the the Marqui has done to his people. They resent the Marqui and could not care less about what happens to him or his house.

Reflection: Alot is happening in these three chapters! The revoltution is brewing and everyone is ready to fight in Paris. The Monseigneur has been thrown from his royal circle which is now gone and has lost his home. His main center is now Tellson bank. The aristocrats are all fleeing to England so they won't be killed by the Jacques are killing most of them. So show their angry at the Marqui, they set his house on fire and his own soldiers won't help to out out the fire which shows how much he was resented by the people of Paris. The soldiers just leave the house to burn and return to their homes and go to bed. The women and Madame Defarge murder and hang a man who had no regard for the poor (Foulon) who told the poor to eat grass when the starve. This was an insulting notion and the peasants decided to kill him and put grass in his own mouth and put his head on a pike. If I lived in Paris at this time and was subjected to such awful behavior I would be ready to revolt too. Now, Lorry is being sent to Paris to protect valuables and papers for Tellson and is going with Jerry as a bodyguard. Jerry is a grave- robber and very sneaky at too so he will be able to sneak Mr. Lorry around Paris without drawing too much attention. Darnay gets a letter from Gabelle, who is imprisoned for looking after the Marqui estate. Darnay sets off  to Paris to take a look at the situation. Maybe Darnya thinks the Gabelle is good or that he can help the Jacques. Either way it is dangerous for him to go there because he is on Madame Defarge's list and he has aristocrat blood. I think that Darnay will join the rebellion in Paris and help out but then eventually someone will figure out his identity. 

Discussion Question: What do you think Darnay will do about Gabelle and saving him from prison?

Tale of Two Cities Book 2 Ch. 18-21 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
11-13-12

Book 2 Ch. 18-21

Summary: In chapter 18,  Darnay tells Doctor Manette his real name and Manette is in deep shock. Lucie and Darnay marry and leave for their honeymoon while Manette is in an incoherent state working on shoes. Miss Pross and the household watch him for nine days and don't think he can join Darnay and Lucie on their honeymoon. In chapter 19, Manette is better and assures them nothing will trigger a relapse again. Manette and Mr. Lorry decide to get rid of the shoemaker's tools for Lucie's sake while Manette is on the honeymoon with them. A few days later, Manette leaves to join Darnay and Lucie and his tools are destroyed. In chapter 20, after Lucie and Darnay return from their honeymoon Carton arrives and apologizes for being drunk during the trial and asks for their friendship. Once he leaves, Darnay criticizes him but Lucie says that Carton is a good man with a wounded heart and Darnay decides to befriend him. In chapter 21, years go by and they have a daughter, little Lucie, and a son who dies young. Lorry visits the Darnays and tells them that a large number of people are sending tributes to England. The scene than changes to the Bastille in Paris where a mob is being lead by Defarge and his wife. He storms a guard and demands to be taken to 105 North Tower, where he searches the cell. When he returns Madame Defarge cuts the head off of the man defending the tower.

Quotation: "Other seven faces there were, carried higher, seven dead faces whose drooping eyelids and half-seen eyes awaited the Last Day... as having yet to raise the dropped lids of the eyes, and bear witness with the bloodless lips, 'Thou didst it!'"    

Quotation Significance: This is a quote about how prisoners from the tower. They were treated horribly and cruelly and are very close to death. So close that they are waiting for their day of judgment before God to see if the go to Heaven or Hell. It is like the are already dead and are coming back to life to tell their killer that they suceeded and to thank their killers for putting them out of their miserable life.

Reflection: Alot happens in these four chapters of the book! Darnay and Lucie get married and Manette finds out Darnay is an aristocrat and he shocked because this is the family that put him in prison for 18 years. This causes Manette to go into an incoherent shock. He tells Darnay to not tell him his real name until the wedding day so that way he doesn't stop Lucie from marrying him. Manette does this because he wants to give Lucie everything and make her happy. Manette is in shock for nine days because this name triggered the memories of the prison inside of him, causing him to go back to shoemaking and hiding from the world. He comes around in a few days and realizes he has to be strong for Lucie's sake and decides to have his shoemaker's tools destroyed. This was a very strong thing for him to do showing that his love and connection with Lucie is very strong and powerful.  Once Lucie and Darnay return from the honeymoon Carton wants to be friends with Darnay and he is rejected by him at first and Lucie knows he is heartbroken and lost and convinces Darnay to give Carton a chance. Darnay agrees with Lucie and decides to do this for Lucie. In Paris, the revolution is going on and Defarge and his wife are heading the rebellion. They storm the prison and bring out all the mostly innocent prisoners who are relieved and scared. Some are almost dead and the revolution is ready to bring the aristocrats down.

Discussion Question: How do you think Manette is handling Darnay and Lucie's relationship?

Tale of Two Cities Book 2 Ch.10-13 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
11-8-12

Book 2 Chapters 10-13

Summary: In chapter 10, Darnay goes to the Manette's house and tells Dr. Manette about his interest to marry Lucie. Dr. Manette is reluctant but promises that Lucie tells Dr. Manette that she wants to marry Darnay and expresses interest in him, the Doctor will let them marry. In chapter 11, Stryver tells Carton that he is planning to ask Lucie to marry him and Carton expresses his approval and congratulations. In chapter 12,   Stryver talks to Mr. Lorry about it at the bank Mr. Lorry doesn't want him to marry Lucie and in the end Mr. Stryver decides not to ask her to marry him. In chapter 13,  Mr. Carton goes to the Manette's house and tells Lucie that his life is nothing and he can never be anything more than he is now. Lucie tells him that she can save him, and Carton tells her that she has inspired him and that he would die for her, and makes her swear to remember him and not tell anyone what they talked about.

Quotation: " O Miss Manette, when the little picture of a happy father's face looks up in yours, when you see your own bright beauty springing up anew at your feet, think now and then that there is a mean who give his life, to keep a life you love beside you!"

Quotation Significance: Mr. Carton tells this to Miss Manette. He is basically saying that he would give his life to her in a second to help her have the life she wanted. He loves her and even though he can't be with her and he knows he shouldn't, he only want the very best for her. 

Reflection: A lot of romance with Lucie goes on in these four chapters! Obviously, not only does Mr. Carton and Darnay love her, it seems that Mr. Stryver does as well. In fact the only in this book who has no interest in Lucie is Mr. Lorry. When Carton hears that Stryver wants to marry Lucie Carton feels hurt but he knows that deep down he isn't good enough for Lucie and even thought he is unhappy he gives his approval. Mr. Stryver says that he isn't marrying Lucie for her money, and it seems like he loves her. But, he gives up the idea of marrying her too quickly. It seems to me that Mr. Stryver likes Lucie, but doesn't love her like Darnay and Carton. Dr. Manette is reluctant to let Darnay marry Lucie but he promises Darnay that he will let them marry if she brings up the idea to him. Carton tells Lucie that he loves her and will die for her and that she has changed his life but he knows he doesn't deserve her and has given up on her. So I think that Lucie and Darnay will eventually get married. Mr. Lorry tells Mr. Stryver he doesn't want him to marry Lucie because he knows that something is going on between Darnay and Lucie which Stryver doesn't know about.   So in the end, Lorry convinces Stryver not to marry Lucie.

Discussion Question: How do you think Lucie feels about her conversation with Carton? How does her relationship with Darnay compare to her relationship with Carton?

Tale of Two Cities Book 2 Ch. 7-9 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
11-6-12

Book 2 Ch. 7-9

Summary: In chapter 7, Monseigneur, a great court lord in Paris, has some guests, one of his guests, Marquis, races his carriage through the streets almost killing the commoners and kills a young boy. Marquis tosses a few coins to Gaspard, the boy's father, and Defarge, who tries to help him. Gaspard throws the coins at the carriage as it rolls away, and Madame Defarge knits. In chapter 8, the Marquis gets to his town which he is the lord of and interrogates a man who was watching him. Marquis continues on his way to find a woman mourning her buried husband and begging him for a grave- marker. Marquis ignores her and arrives at his chateau and asks if Darnay has arrived from England. In chapter 9, Darnay, Marquis's nephew, tells him he wants to renounce his title to inherit the property when Marquis dies. Darnay says that their family is associated with fear and slavery and the Marquis was found with a knife to his heart the next day, with a note from Jacques.

Quotation: "'Repression is the only lasting philosophy. The dark deference of fear and slavery, my friend,' observed the Marquis, 'will keep the dogs obedient to the whip, as long as this roof... shuts out the sky.'"

Quotation Significance: The Marquis says that as long there is fear of slavery from the peasants, they can be kept in line as long as they can't see the sky. Which basically means as long as they don't see the world clearly, and have hope for something better and that they are blocked from the world and and any help. 

Reflection: Marquis seems like a terrible, and a cruel man. He sent a carriage through the streets and hit a young boy and didn't even care, and just left a few coins for his father in pity. Gaspard, his father, was so devastated by his son's death and was sickened by the coins. How could killing a young boy be made up with a few small coins? Gaspard throws them away in his disgust. Luckily, Madame Defarge is watching, and stitches his name into her knitting cloth, by doing this, Marquis is on the list to die, and thankfully he gets justice by a knife to his heart and a note from Jacques. This obviously means that the killer was a rebel, and part of the revolution because of the code name "Jacques".  The other part of the message says "Drive him fast to his tomb". This means that they want his death to be quickly hidden so that no one gets suspicious about who did it. I have suspicions that maybe Darnay did it. He was at the headquarters of the revolution, the only known man at the house that night, and he asked to not inherit the property the night before Marquis was murdered. This is why I think it is possible that Darnay killed him. Darnay knew how terrible he is and what he could do, and he had to end Marquis's reign. 

Discussion Question: Who do you think killed Marquis?

Tale of Two Cities Book 2 Ch. 5-6 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
11-5-12

Book 2 Chapters 5-6

Summary: In chapter 5, Mr. Carton and Mr. Stryver drink at Stryver's appartment. Stryver is the "lion" and Mr. Carton is the "jackal". Stryver says that Carton has no direction and is always up and down. Stryver calls Lucie beautiful and Mr. Carton shakes off his comment about her. In chapter 6, four monthes later, dozens come everyday to ask to marry Lucie and Miss Pross thinks her brother Solomon is the only man worthy of her, but in fact Solomon robbed Miss Pross and left her in poverty. A story from Darnay about the prison and a message in the dirt surprises him but he recovers, then Lucie and Mr. Carton talk. 

Quotation:"I have sometimes sat alone here of an evening, listening, until I have made the echoes out to be the echoes of all the footsteps that are coming by-and-bye into our lives."

Quotation Significance: Lucie says this to Mr. Carton about how she hears the footsteps of people going by and how she dreams about what way they will come into her lives and in what way. 

Reflection: So far it seems that Mr. Carton really likes Lucie. He sought her out after everyone leaves in chapter 6 and in chapter 5 he talks about how beautiful she is to Darnay. Darnay shrugs off his comment in chapter 5 but Mr. Carton knows he liked her more than he really lets on. Lucie doesn't totally realize that Mr. Carton likes her but she has an idea that maybe Darnay does and that she likes him too. Mr. Carton is upset because he doesn't credit for winning the case for Darnay and Stryver gets all the credit. I think that Mr. Carton believes that if he was a better man, like Darnay, he would be able to be good enough to stand about to Mr. Stryver and get credit for his work. Mr. Stryver knows that he has Mr. Carton under his belt, this is why he is the "lion" and Mr. Carton is the "jackal". Mr. Carton does all the work and Mr. Stryver gets all the credit and glory. I think that next something will happen between Darnay and Lucie and Mr. Carton will be hurt. 

Discussion Question: Why is Mr. Carton jealous of Darnay?

Tale of Two Cities Book 2 Ch. 1-4 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
10-31-12

Book 2 Chapters 1-4

Summary: In chapter 1, It is now five years later, in 1780. Jerry Cruncher was known as the "odd-job man" at the bank and was always running errands.The scene starts at Jerry's dingy apartment, and he wakes up to see his wife praying and tells her to stop because he thinks that praying will make God stop his successful grave-robbing business. In chapter 2, an old clerk tells Jerry to go to the court, and give a message to Mr. Lorry and to wait for further instruction. When he goes in, he sees a 25 year old man on trial for treason, Charles Darnay. He supposedly told France info about England . A whisper runs through the room on who a lady and her father is, but Darnay figures out these people are the witnesses against him. In chapter 3, The attorney- general and the solicitor-general battle and they examine the witnesses, John Barsad  and Roger Cly and both are considered untrustworthy witnesses.  Mr. Lorry takes the stand and Lucie is brought to the stand and says how Mr. Darnay helped her with her sick father, but she thought he was guilty. The jury deliberates to find Mr. Darnay not guilty. In chapter 4, Darnay, Lucie, Mr. Manette, Mr. Stryver, Mr. Carton, and Mr. Lorry leave the courthouse and the book says Mr. Manette is now a proud civilized citizen and Lucie is the "golden thread" to his past. Mr. Carton and Darnay head to a tavern and talk about how Darnay is the source of Lucie's compassion. Carton comments that no one loves him and he loves no one, and Darnay leaves. 

Quotation: "There is nothing in you to like; you know that. Ah, confound you! What a change you have made in yourself! A good reason for taking to a man, that he shows you what you fallen away from, and what you might have been." 

Quotation Significance: Mr. Carton says this to himself once Darnay leaves and he thinks that there is nothing inside himself to like, which is why he drinks so much. He thinks he has changed and that Darnay is who he used to be and who he always wanted to become. This is basically saying that Mr. Carton wishes he was someone else and that he could be a better person.

Reflection: So far, it seems that Lucie and Darnay have something. They will fall in love, and live together hopefully. It seems that Mr. Carton has a self-image problem and desperately wants to improve himself and Darnay reminds him of the young man he used to be. Mr. Lorry thinks that life has no meaning and that he is a simple machine, only useful for one thing, and having no feeling or no meaning  to his life. Lucie feels bad for Darnay and pities him. She wants to help him but knows he is ultimately guilty. Lucie also has a little crush on him too. Darnay likes Lucie and thinks she is beautiful but he doesn't enjoy being the source of her pity. Mr. Manette is now a happy distinguished citizen and Lucie is "golden thread" that links from safely from his past to the future and keeps him happy and not in misery anymore. It was hard for him to adjust though, after being in prison for 18 years. But he has gotten over it and is ready to live a new life. Jerry has a sucessful job as a grave-robber and doesn't like his wife for praying for him because he fears God will take away his sucessful job because Jerry knows it is wrong. I think that next Darnay and Lucie will fall in love and Mr. Lorry will find someone, but something then will go wrong so the plot of the book is revealed.

Discussion Question: Why do you think Mr. Carton is so hard on himself?

Tale of Two Cities Book 1 Ch. 5-6 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
10-30-12

Book 1 Chapters 5-6

Summary: In chapter 5, In Saint Antione, a wine bottle falls to the ground and a man dips his finger in the red wine and uses it to write "blood" on the wall. Miss Manette and Mr. Lorry arrive at the wine shop but the owner, Mr. Defarge and his wife behind the counter ignores them at first and talk to three other men. Mr. Defarge leads the three men upstairs and when he returns Mr. Lorry has a conversation with him and Mr. Defarge leads them upstairs to a room to see an old man making shoes. In chapter 6, Mr. Manette tells them he is making a woman's shoe and mistakes Lucy for his wife and tells her how he begged them to let him keep a few strands of her hair that he had in possession. Lucy tells him he can go home, and Mr. Manette is overcome with emotion and she says he must now go to London, and Mr. Defarge puts them in a coach so they can go home. 

Quotation:  "If, when I hint to you of a Home that is before us, where I will be true to you with all my duty and with all my faithful service, I bring back the remembrance of a Home long desolate, while your poor heart pined away, weep for it, weep for it!"

Quotation Significance: This quote is Lucy talking to her father and she is saying that if he is hinting for a home and he knows that she is hinting for him to share it with her, all he has to is ask. She is saying that she wants her dad to come home and be with her forever and live with her .

Reflection: Lucy has just met her father in the Wine Shop and is obviously in shock about it. She is sa to see the condition he is in and she wants to love him and be with him forever. Mr. Manette recognizes her first as his wife but realizes she is way too young and starts to assume that this is his daughter. He calls her a gentle angel and wants to be with her again. In the first part of chapter 5, the scene where the wine bottle is dropped to interesting because it seems to foreshadow how Lucy and Mr. Lorry's relationship will work out, it will bring some good- the wine being fed to the children- and have some good aspects but will ultimately end badly, this is symbolized when the man writes "blood" on the wall of a building. I thought that the idea of the "wine shop" symbolizing more than just a wine shop was interesting, it was not only a shop, but the center of the revolutionary force in Paris. I think that next Mr. Lorry and Lucy will fall in love and it will br good for some time but ultimately end badly. 

Discussion Question: What kind of emotions does Lucy feel when she meets her father?

Tale of Two Cities Book 1 Ch.1-4 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
10-29-12

Book 1 Chapters 1-4

Summary: In chapter 1, the author explains it was one of the best and worst times in history. A stern king and a queen with a plain face ruled England and a stern king with a beautiful queen ruled France. In 1775,  Mrs. Southcott had turned twenty-five and England was stable but France was heading towards disaster. In chapter 2, a group of passengers with a guard are travelling with the Dover mail coach and the horses are tiring out, and they hear galloping from behind. Mr. Lorry, a passenger, gets a message from Jerry, a messenger,  from Tellson's Bank, where Mr. Lorry works, his message back is "Recalled to Life". Then the coach keeps going up the hill and Jerry leaves. In chapter 3, Jerry rides back and stops to drink along the way, and plans to deliver the message to the night watchman outside of Tellson's bank. Mr. Lorry nodes off beside his horse and dreams heading to a grave to bury someone who is forty-five and was brought back to life. In chapter 4, Mr. Lorry arrives at the Royal George Hotel and tells the clerk to wait for a young woman to arrive and to tell him when she arrives. Later that night, Miss Manette arrived from England and she arrived to be escorted to Paris to meet a gentleman from a bank because her father died. She says that she knows that Mr. Lorry brought her to England as an orphan when she was a baby, he says he did this and that her father went to prison and her mother tried to hide it from her. He is alive and they plan to go see him, everything about him is pretained under the line "Recalled to Life" and is top secret. Miss Manette doesn't move and Mr. Lorry has to call for help. 

Quotation: "As to this, his natural and not to be alienated inheritance, the messenger on horseback had exactly the same possessions as the King, the first Minister of State, or the richest merchant in London."

Quotation Significance: This quote is saying that secrets is what keeps all men equal. The poor farmer, the King, the Minister and the merchant are equal in the fact that they all have secrets which means they are equal. 

Reflection: So far, it seems that Mr. Lorry likes Miss Manette a little and thinks she is pretty. He is scared though when she doesn't move and he calls for help. Miss Manette is shocked to find out her father is alive and that they are planning to see him. So far, this story mostly follows Mr. Lorry, but a brief chapter is about Jerry heading to deliver a message to Tellson's bank and about his dream of the man dying. I think this dream is about something to come and this makes Jerry nervous because he doesn't know the man in his dream, why he dies, who the woman he talks about is, or why he is brought back to life. Overall, Jerry is just generally confused on how he feels about everything. I think that next Miss Manette and Mr. Lorry will fall in love and go to visit her father. So far, it is hard to know what is coming up next. Mr. Lorry keeps saying he is a machine, meaning he feels like life doesn't mean anything and he only knows things about money and he loves no one. 

Discussion Question: Why does Mr. Lorry call himself a machine?

Jane Eyre Chapters 35-36 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
10-24-12

Chapters 35-36

Summary: In chapter 35, St. John is still angry at Jane for refusing to be his wife, she talks to him and tries to make amends the night before he leaves for India, and he tries to convince her to go as a coadjutor to another woman, but she refuses to go with strangers. She is persuaded by St. John and almost agrees to marry him when she hears a voice in her head, Mr. Rochester's voice was calling her. In chapter 36,  Jane gets a letter from St. John that says he wants her answer for marriage in a fortnight. She decides to leave for four days to visit Mr. Rochester and Thornfield Hall. When she arrives, the hall is in ruins, and she finds out that the building burnt down in a fire the autumn before.  Bertha had set fire to the house. In the fire, Bertha committed suicide. Because Mr. Rochester saved the servants over himself, he went blind and had to have his arm amputated. 

Quotation: " 'Formerly' I answered, 'because you did not love me: now, I reply, because you almost hate me. If I were to marry you, you would kill me. You are killing me now." (441).

Quotation Significance: Jane says this to St. John when she still refuses to marry him, despite his persuasion. She thinks that St. John is so cold that he almost hates her, and it would kill her to be tied to someone who almost hates her. Just by asking her to marry St. John, he is killing her already, just at the thought of it.

Reflection: Jane still refuses to marry St. John. I think St. John is upset that Jane won't marry him, but he doesn't love her, he just wants to convert her soul to work for God as a laborer. She almost marries him because she thinks she gets a message from God- but right after she hears Mr. Rochester's voice call out to her in her mind and then she leaves Thornfield. She is devastated when she hears about Bertha and the fire, but this also means that they can marry each other. Jane feels sad for Mr. Rochester because he is now blind, depressed, and a cripple. She wants to see him and plans to travel thirty miles away to a farmhouse to do it. I think Jane believes this is all her fault because if she had stayed with him and went on adventures through the world with him, he wouldn't have been in the fire. She is especially sad when she hears that he was so angry, depressed, and heartbroken when she left and he wouldn't leave Thornfield. I think next Jane will visit Mr. Rochester and marry him, and maybe a miracle will save his eyesight. 

Discussion Question: Why do you think Bertha lit Thornfield on fire and kill herself?

Jane Eyre Chapters 33-34 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
10-23-12

Chapters 33-34

Summary: In chapter 33, Jane finds out that her uncle in Madera died, leaving her 20,000 pounds. She also finds out she is the cousin of St. John, Diana, and Mary and has decided to split her fortune with them and live them in their house. She has also decided to leave the school, but waits until a substitute comes to take over. In chapter 34,  Diana and Mary arrive home and St. John tells them that Miss Oliver is marrying Mr. Granby, a rich man in another shire. Before going to bed, St. John kisses Jane on the lips. He asks her to learn Hindustani instead of German. He then asks her to go to India and marry him, not for love but for the service of God. She says she will go to India with him, but not as his wife, he is angry at this and leaves the room.

Quotation: "What can you mean? It may be of no moment to you; you have sisters and don't care for a cousin; but I had nobody; and now three relations- or two, if you don't choose to be counted- are born into my world full-grown. I say again, I am glad!"(411).

Quotation Significance: When Jane finds out that she is related to Diana, Mary, and St. John, she is ecstatic. She thought she had no relative left in the world or someone left to support her. Now that she knows she won't be lonely and can share her fortune with someone she is relieved. But St. John doesn't understand this.

Reflection: Jane is in shock after learning St. John wants to marry her, and what's sad it that is that it is only just for service for the missionaries, Not for loving her. Jane understands service for God, but doesn't want to be ties to St. John and she sees how mad and hurt he is, and is almost persuaded by him to marry him because of it. Jane just can't possibly imagine being marrying to a cold man who doesn't love her and living her whole life tied to him. I think next she will run away from St. John and find Mr. Rochester again or she not go to India and stay with Diana and Mary and be found by Mr. Rochester eventually. Because earlier a couple chapters back, when the tree was split down the middle, it means they will be split up, but their foundation or very roots of their friendship and love still remain and be strong. 

Discussion Question: Why do you think Jane feels obligated to marry St. John?

Jane Eyre Chapters 31-32 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
10-22-12

Chapter 31-32

Summary: In chapter 31, Jane has opened the school and Mr. Rivers comes by to drop off a box of art supplies from Diana and Mary for Jane, and Jane meets Miss Oliver, daughter of the rich man who owns the mansion on the hill. Miss Oliver invited Mr. Rivers to her home to talk with Mr. Oliver but Mr. Rivers declines. In chapter 32,  Jane begins to like some of the children at her little school, and becomes friends with many people in the neighborhood. She has many dreams of Mr. Rochester, and Miss Oliver comes to school to teach and to Jane's cottage and Jane makes a sketch of her, Mr. Oliver sees it and has her finish it and meet with him at his mansion. Mr. Rivers tells Jane he likes Miss Oliver alot but can't see it working out even though she likes him.

Quotation: "I am simply, in my original state-stripped of that blood-bleached robe with which Christianity covers human deformity-a cold, hard, ambitious man."(400)

Quotation Significance: Mr. Rivers says this after talking about Miss Oliver. He is saying that he is open and not hidden beneath his mask of deformity to protect himself- making him an overall cold, but ambitious man.

Reflection: Even though Jane moves so far away to avoid Mr. Rochester, she finds she is constantly thinking about hims and having dreams about him all the time. She wants to forget about him, but she can't help but think about how her life would be if she stayed with him. St. John loves Miss Oliver, but he can't see a future with her or imagine her being a missionary's wife. Miss Oliver is in love with St. john and doesn't understand why he doesn't love her back. She is confused and lovestruck and tries to get St. John's attention but nothing really works to change him. He doesn't want to leave the sanctuary of God for a love that probably won't work out, the promise of heaven is too important to him. I think next Jane will go for a visit to Thornfield and fall in love again with Mr. Rochester or they will somehow meet up again one day.

Discussion Question: Why is St. John so afraid to commit his love to Miss Oliver?

Jane Eyre Chapters 27-28 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period
10-17-12

Chapters 27-28

Summary: In chapter 27, Mr.Rochester apologizes to Jane, and tries to kiss her but she refuses him. He tells her he didn't tell her about Bertha so she would come to Thornfield. He wants to run from Thornfield with Jane but she refuses and says she must leave him forever, making him angry.  He tells Jane about marrying Bertha, how her family members were mad and and how she slowly grew mad. He then brought her to Thornfield and sought out his soulmate and went travelling through Europe. He then returned to Thornfield and met Jane, he also talks about watching her and thinking about her. He tired to convince her to be his mistress but she refuses and leaves Thornfield. In chapter 28, she hitches a ride to Whitcross and spends the night under a tree. The next few days she searches for a job, sleeps in the woods, and has to beg for food from strangers. She roams to a house in the distance and a man named St. John invites her in and lets her spend the night there.

Quotation: "Terrible moment: full of struggle, blackness, burning! Not a human being that ever lived could wish to be loved better than I was loved; and him who thus loved me I absolutely worshipped: and I must renounce love and idol. One drear word comprised my intolerable duty-'Depart!'"(335).

Quotation Significance: Jane is saying how she could have never been loved more or wished for any more.  And she worshipped Mr. Rochester for this, and loved him for it. But she knew she had to make the right choice and leave him.

Reflection: Jane was so shocked upon finding that Mr. Rochester had a wife that she couldn't even cry at first. When Mr. Rochester talks with her, Jane is sad about how his marriage to this women has had a negative impact on him and he was tricked by his own relatives because they were only interested in Bertha's money. Because of this, Mr. Rochester is depressed and all he wanted was his soulmate, which according to him is Jane. Jane understands this and loves him back, but she can't be a mistress. This is against all that she believes in, even though she wants to say yes to him. She believes that if she says yes she will break a rule and once you break one rule, you are more likely to break many more after that. When she is on the run,she is invited in St.John's home. I know that John Read died of a succide, but was considered a rumor, and maybe not true. It seems weird to me that they share the same name, but then I also think this can't be true because John Read was so cruel to her as a child. I think that next Jane will get a job at St.John's and make some money and move one to go back to Mr. Rochester or to find another governess job.

Discussion Question: Why do you think St. John is so nice and welcoming to Jane?

Jane Eyre Chapters 25-26 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
10-16-12

Chapters 25-26

Summary: In chapter 25, Jane receives her wedding dress and has trouble picturing her wedding day, she then discovers that the chestnut tree has been struck by lightening and is cut exactly in half. She is anxious and runs down the road to meet Mr.Rochester on his horse and they go back to the hall to eat dinner together. She tells him that someone came into her room the night before and tore her veil in half. Mr. Rochester has her then sleep with Adele to keep her safe. In chapter 26,  Jane comes down in her wedding dress and ready to be married. They make it to the church and a stranger tells them he has an impediment to their marriage, saying Mr.Rochester was already married. It turns out he is, to a woman named Bertha Mason. Mr.Mason's sister. She is mad, and Mr. Rochester has Grace Poole take care if her. But they have nothing together and she is locked up all through the day, and is like a wild hyena. Jane is devastated.

Quotation: "...I never saw a face like it! It was a discoloured face- it was a savage face. I wish I could forget the roll of the red eyes and the fearful blackened inflation of the lineaments!"(301).

Quotation Significance: This quote is essentially about Bertha Mason. Mr. Rochester's wife, even though Jane doesn't know it at the time. This is why Jane's veil is ripped and Mr. Mason is attacked by this woman, who is his sister. Bertha is described as a savage beast, like a werewolf.

Reflection: Jane is shocked when she hears of Mr. Rochester's betrayal, and thinks about leaving Thornfield. She still loves him but his deepylt hurt by his actions. She does seem to understand though what he must be going through though, he is a man who wants to get away from a estranged wife.  What I find puzzling is the fact that Jane doesn't say much during the service and after, like she thought the whole marriage was too good to be true anyway. Mr. Rochester still wants to marry Jane and didn't mean to hurt her the way he did. My prediction was right in believing that Mrs. Poole was innocent, she is only Bertha's caretaker. But someone had to be blamed for Mr. Mason's injury, the cries, and the torn veil, so Mr. Rochester blames Mrs. Poole to keep Bertha hidden. I think next Bertha will continue to hurt Jane and Mr. Rochester's relationship and will hurt more people. But in the end, Jane will destroy the beast or make it normal once again.

Discussion Question: Why did Mr. Rochester keep Berta Mason a secret?

Jane Eyre Chapters 22-24 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
10-16-12

Chapters 22-24

Summary: After a month at Gateshead, Jane returns to Thornfield. She meets Mr.Rochester there and he asks for her opinon on wedding matters. Then he ushers her into the house and she tells him that Thornfield is her one and only home. In chapter 23,  Jane is in the garden and runs into Mr.Rochester, and he tells her he will have to find her a new job in a month and suggests a job in Ireland for her. Jane tells him she doesn't want to go, and he asks her to be his wife. She is shocked and doesn't believe it, but she finally agrees. In chapter 24, Jane kisses Mr.Rochester and he wants to shower her with gifts but she refuses saying that he will love her for a few months  and then he will continue only to like her. Then the pair head down to town to go shop with Adele and tell Mrs.Fairfax about the marriage.  Jane then says she wants everything as it was until the wedding, and Mr.Rochester agrees.

Quotation: "My bride is here...because my equal is here, and my likeness. Jane, will you marry me?"(269).

Quotation Significance: Jane is in the garden with Mr.Rochester and is just finding out his intentions to marry her. She is shocked. Mr.Rochestere is saying that he loves Jane, and she is his equal. He desperately wants to marry her.

Reflection: Jane has discovered that Mr.Rochester wants to marry her. Obviously this means that the fling with Miss Ingram was a ploy to make Jane jealous or not real at all. Jane loved Mr.Rochester, but never excepts that he will return her love. She is ecstatic but a little suspicious, I think she believes that Mr. Rochester has a crush on her and that it wont last very much longer. But she has decided to take a chance on him, most likely because she is so in love with him. Mr. Rochester wants to prove his love to her with expensive dresses and gifts, but this will not win Jane's heart and she has no interest in his money. She just wants to be happy and doesn't care too much on how she looks. She tells him that he will just have to accept that or not marry her. Adele is overjoyed at the marriage, because this means she most likely wont be sent away to school. All in all, Jane and Mr. Rochester are happy about the wedding to come soon.

Discussion Question: How do you think this marriage will affect everyone else in the household, and how long do you think this marriage will last?

Jane Eyre Chapters 13-16 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
October 2, 2012

Chapters 13-16

Summary: In chapter 13,  Jane and Adele are called to Mr.Rochester's presence and Mr.Rochester learns about Adele and views her artwork and piano skills. In chapter 14,  she is called to Mr.Rochester's presence again and he tells her that he has forbidden Adele to talk about her parents with him and he gives Adele a new dress and he wants to talk with Jane and know everything about her. In chapter 15, Mr.Rochester tells Jane how he could possibly be Adele's father and was in love with her mother who abandoned her, Celine Varens. Jane hears a laugh at her door that night and footsteps along the hall and she finds Mr.Rochester's room on fire and she puts it out just in time. Mr.Rochester thinks that Grace did it. In chapter 16, Jane talks to Grace, but doesn't give anything away. She alos finds out that Mr.Rochester has left to go to a party for a week.

Quotation: "The human and fallible should not arrogate a power with which the divine and perfect alone can be safely entrusted"(144).

Quotation Significance: Jane says this to Mr.Rochester. She believes that the perfect and divine people should hold the power because they will not be greedy and will mot make mistakes with the power. She believes if this happens everyone will be happy.

Reflection: At the end of chapter 16 it is very evident that Jane likes Mr.Rochester and likes his company and looks forward to seeing and talking to him. She is in love with him, but doesn't quite know how to handle it. Mr. Rochester is indebted to Jane because she saved him for the fire, and he likes her as well. He enjoys talking to her and the fact she is interesting for such a young person. Even though Mr. Rochester cares for Adele he doesn't feel much emotion towards her due the fact that her mom betrayed her and he doesn't want to lose anyone again. Grace was supposedly the person who set Mr. Rochester's room on fire, but I'm thinking that this isn't true, but is the person they least suspect, or someone who was forgotten. I think that next something will bad will happen to Adele or someone else and Jane will have to figure out who it is.

Discussion Question: Why does Mr. Rochester not have much affection for Adele?

Jane Eyre Chapters 10-12 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
October 1, 2012

Chapters 10-12

Summary: In chapter 10, Jane Eyre puts an ad in the newspaper and gets a job as a governess to a little girl in Millcote. In chapter 11, She arrives and is warmly welcomed by the house manager, Mrs. Fairfax. She gets to know her pupil Adele, and loves the young girl. In chapter 12, Jane runs down to Hay to deliver a letter and assists Mr. Rochester who fell off his horse and received a sprained ankle because of it. After coming back from Hay, she realizes who the man was.

Quotation: "Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts as much as their brothers do..." (113).

Quotation Significance: Jane is saying that she is tired of women being subordinate and not having true feelings because even though a women doesn't show it as much as men, they have ambitions and dreams too. She thinks that women should have the same oppurtunities as men.

Reflection: Jane thought she would be happy and content as the Thornfield mansion, and she was at first. But now she is staring to feel restless. She wants to go out and see the world, and struggle to make ends meet, and make life an adventure. She loves Adele and wants the best for her, and wants to see to her end of schooling. Adele is glad to have someone she can confide in, because she isn't very fluent in English. Jane is her good mentor and also her companion. When Jane realizes Mr. Rochester is the man she rescues she isn't shocked, and seems to like the man very much. I think that next Jane will fall in love with Mr.Rochester but then realize there is a dark secret about him, but until it is too late. She realizes that this secret might even affect her pupil she loves, Adele.

Discussion Question: How do you think Jane feels toward Thornfield and Mr.Rochester?

Jane Eyre Chapters 7-9 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
September 26, 2012

Chapters 7-9

Summary: In chapter 7, Mr. Brocklehurst tells everyone in the school to stay away from Jane because she is nasty and a liar. In chapter 8, Helen calms Jane down and consoles her, the girls then go with Miss Temple and she tells Jane she has pardoned her after Jane tells Miss Temple her story. Miss Temple says if she receives a letter of agreement for Mr. Lloyd she will be publicly pardoned. In chapter 9, spring comes bringing a wave of sickness to the school and Helen dies of a coughing disease. Helen dies in Jane's arms. Jane also makes friends with Mary Ann Wilson and due to the sickness they have more freedom to be outside and play.

Quotation: "My Maker and yours, who will never destroy what He created. I rely implicitly on His power, and confide wholly in His goodness: I count the hours till that eventful one arrives which shall retore me to Him, reveal Him to me." (82).

Quotation Significance: Helen says this on the night she dies almost before falling asleep. She says that she can't wait to be restored back to God and be with him. She knows that He loves her and she will have peace in heaven.

Reflection: So far, it seems that Jane's problems with the Reeds are over. She has been fully pardoned for this, and she has even made some new friends, like Mary Ann Wilson. She is woring hard in school and in the spring she feels bad she hasn't visited Helen but she thought that Helen would get over this minor sickness. When she hears that Helen isn't doing well Jane goes at night to see her and Helen dies in her arms. Jane feels saddened at Helen's death. She thought of Helen has a great friend, someone to confide in. Her friend Mary Ann was great, bu according to Jane was only good for stories and gossip. Jane has lost her one  true friend at Lowood. Alhtough this tragedy occured, Jane still feels optimistic about her new life and chance to live in harmony and have friends. I think that Jane will have a pleasurable experience at Lowood.

Discussion Question: Do you think Jane's life is taking a turn for the better?

Jane Eyre Chapters 4-6 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
September 25, 2012

Chapters 4-6

Summary: In chapter 4, Jane is confined to a small closet to sleep in and confined to long days in the nursery. She is called down to the dining room to find out she will be going to school at Lowood. After Mrs. Reed tells the man who teaches at Lowood how awful she is,  Jane yells at her afterwards and Jane wins the argument and Jane wins the argument. Jane and Bessie bond and Bessie almost becomes her friend. In chapter 5, Jane arrives at Lowood, a strict boarding school. She makes friends with a new girl and so ends her first day at Lowood. In chapter 6, her friend Burns is yelled at for not washing her nails even though the water that morning was frozen. She is punished severely and Helen tells Jane to forgive John and Mrs. Reed and move on.

Quotation: "...I abhor the last; with this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation never too deeply disgusts me, injustice never crushes me too low; I live in calm, looking to the end." (57)

Quotation Significance: Helen says this to Jane about how she is always insulted and belittled by Mrs.Scatherd. She is saying that she never lets anything get her down too low and she lives peacefully looking to her death- when she will be in peace. 

Reflection: So far, this book has been very interesting but very sad. The school Lowood, seems very strict and very much like a prison. The girls have to get up early than dawn and are punished very severely for every small thing they do wrong. Helen is treated very badly by Mrs. Scatherd but has decided to forgive Mrs.Scatherd for this and decides it just isn't worth worrying about. She is just looking forward to getting out of school to get a good job and have a good life. Jane feels terrible for Helen and can't understand how she deals with it. Even though Helen has advised Jane to forgive John and Mrs.Reed she isn't sure if she can. I think next, Jane will become to the target of the bullying and will defend herself of something she didn't do and cause trouble for herself.

Discussion Question: Do you think Jane will be the next target of the teachers and students?

Jane Eyre Chapters 1-3 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
September 14, 2012

Chapters 1-3

Summary: In chapter 1, Jane is reading a book about birds in a adjoining room in the house. John Reed comes in, discovers her and slaps her and throws a book at her and she falls to hit her head. She insults John who then calls Bessie and another maid who takes her away to be punished. In chapter 2,  Bessie and the maid tell Jane that if she doesn't pray and behave she will be sent to the poorhouse, she is loacked in the red room when we learn that Mr. Reed has been dead for nine years. Jane reflects how sad and depressed she is, and how unfavored she is no matter what she does. She is made to stay in the red room for another hour until she is perfectly still and obedient. In chapter 3, Jane is sick and talkes to Mr.Lloyd about the ghost she saw and miserable she is. Mr.Lloyd convinces Mrs. Reed to send her to boarding school.

Quotation: "'Wicked and cruel boy!' I said. 'You are like a murderer- you are like a slave-driver-you are like the Roman emperors.'"(5).

Quotation Significance: Jane says this to John after he hurls a book at her and she falls and hits her head on the door. She has had all this anger bottling up inside her and needed to let it out after being habitually bullied by John.

Reflection: So far this book was been very interesting but depressing. This girl Jane has depression issues and none understands her or will talk to her. John bullies her and Eliza and Georgiana don't talk to her at all or care about her. Jane is only still at the house because of a promise Mrs. Reed made her dying husband. Jane feels unwanted, and hated but she knows she can't leave unless she wants to be poor and beg, which she does not want. Mr.Lloyd seems to understand her and knows what she is going through. I'm hoping that when she goes to boarding school things will be different for her.

Discussion Question: Why does John harass and bully Jane? Do you think Jane will find calmness and comfort at school?

Much Ado About Nothing Act V Scene 3-4

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period  Five
9/19/12

 Act V Scene 3-4

Summary:  In Act V Scene 3,  Claudio goes and sings to Hero at he tomb and gives her a poem and sings her a hymn. In Act V Scene 4, Claudio thinks he is getting married to Beatrice but Hero takees off her mask and reveals herself to him. They both get married and Benedick and Beatrice do as well. Don John is caught running from Messina, and everyone dances and rejoices.
Quotation: "Done to death by slanderous tongues was the Hero that here lies. Death, in guerdon of her wrongs, gives her fame which never dies. So the life that died with shame lives in death with glorious fame."
Significance of Quotation: This is the epipath that Claudio says to Hero. This means that here lies Hero, who was killed by words. Because of this, she will gain fame by Death. So that her shameful end, lives on with fame. He is wishing Hero a good life of fame in the afterlife despite the reason for her death.
Reflection: This book was very interesting and good. I'm glad that Beatrice and Benedick knew they were tricked but still stay together. Hero and Claudio live happily ever after and Leonato and Antonio live through the joy of their daughters. Don John is captured and will be punished by Benedick for his actions. Overall, I liked how the book turned out and became a happy ending. I also like the comedy that was in the book, which includes Benedick, Beatrice, and Dogberry. This book was interesting, funny, and an overall good read.
Discussion Question: What do you think will happen to Don John?

Much Ado About Nothing Act 5.1-5.2 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
September 18, 2012

Act 5.1-5.2

Summary: Leonato and Antonio challenge Claudio to a duel because he thinks that Hero was falsely accused, and Benedick challenges Claudio to a duel on Beatrice's behalf. Borachio and Conrade confess their crimes to Leonato and Don John flees the city. Claudio pleads to Leonato for mercy and Leonato tells him to pray and write a poem to Hero and sing it to her, and they next morning he will have to marry Beatrice to gain Leonato's forgiveness. In Act 5 Scene 2, Benedick iw writing Beatrice a poem and sends Margaret to get her. Beatrice and Benedick talk about Claudio and Hero and Beatrice syas she is sick when Ursula comes in to tell them that Hero is innocent and Don John is responsible. 

Quotation: "If such a one will smile and stroke his bread, bid sorrow wag, cry "hem" when he should groan, patch grief with proverbs, make misfortune drunk with candle-wasters, bring him yet to me, and I of him will gather patience. "

Quotation Significance: Leonato says this while talking to his brother Antonio. He is saying that if there is a happy man who should be grieving and isn't, Leonato wants to learn from him and how to handle his own grief. 

Reflection: So far, this play has been very interesting. Right now, Don John has run away, which is proof to the family that Don John was at fault for ruining the marriage. Beatrice and Benedick are still in love and haven't realized the trick that was played on them. Claudio feels so guilty for hurting and killing Hero he feels like he can't live any longer. But he wants to seek Leonato's forgiveness, even if this means marrying a different woman. It looks like Borachio and Conrade are guilty and have realized what they have done to Claudio and Hero is very wrong. I think that next Hero and Claudio will see wach the next morning and get married.

Discussion Question: Do you think that Benedick and Beatrice will get married?

Much Ado About Nothing Act 4.1-4.2 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
September 17, 2012

Act 4.1-4.2

Summary: Claudio accuses Hero of sleeping in another man's bed right before they get married. She has no proof to prove them wrong, and Claudio decides not to marry her and they leave as Hero faints. Claudio, Don Pedro, and Don John leave, and the Friar tells them he believes she is a virgin and Leonato wants his daughter to die for her sins. They decide to find more proof and suspect Don John, they plan to pretend Hero died to see if Claudio shows remorse that she died and if not, she can go into hiding. Beatrice and Benedick tell each other I love you, but Beatrice is mad because Benedick won't help to kill Claudio for his wrong accusations of Hero. He agrees to help hide and protect Hero though. In Act 4 Scene 2, the trial to find out if Borachio and Conrade are guilty comes, and the men are found guilty and to be taken to Leonato.

Quotation:  "Out on thee, seeming! I will write against it. You seem to me as Dian in her orb, As chaster as is the bud ere it be blown. But you are more intemperate in your blood then Venus, or those pampered animal that rage in savage sensuality."

Quotation Significance: This quote is saying that that Hero seemed worthy to Claudio, as beautifully as blossoms about to bloom. But to him, in reality, she is a pampered animal, allowed to run around and  cause and do terrible things. 

Reflection: So far, it seems that Borachio and Conrade are caught, but not Don John- although Benedick, Leonato, and Beatrice suspect him. Leonato wants to believe his daughter is innocent but he knows he can't discard the words of three or four men. Beatrice is mad at Benedick and ven though she loves him, she is hurt that he won't help her. Benedick is torn because he knows he needs to help Claudio and Beatrice. Who are at this moment, on opposite sides. Hero feels hurt because she is wrongly accused and forced to pretend to be dead and lay in hide from a sin she did not commit. 

Discussion Question: Do you think Don John will be found out as a traitor?

Much Ado About Nothing Act 3.2-3.3 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
September 13, 2012

Act 3.2-3.3

Summary: Don Pedro and Claudio have a discussion and argue whether Benedick is in love or not with Beatrice.  Don John walks in and talks to Claudio telling him that Hero is unfaithful and if he watches her bedroom window at night he will see her unfaithfulness.  In Act 3 Scene 3, Dogberry an Verges leave men on guard duty when Borachio and Conrade walk in, and talk about how Borachio has been paid to be a criminal by Don John and the watchmen listen in. They hear how Margaret pretended to be Hero and was seduced by Borachio. The wathcmen order them to stop and take them to Constable Dogberry.

Quotation: "Benedick's heart is like a bell, with his tongue as the clapper: everything his heart thinks, his tongue thinks."

Quotation Significance: Don Pedro said this about Benedick when him and Claudio argue over whether Benedick is in love. They are saying everything in his heart is what he says out loud. They are basically saying he talks about what he feels and he is very easy to read.

Reflection: The two watchmen caught Borachio and Conrade talking about ruining Hero and Caludio's marriage. This means that this story isn't a tragedy and that Don John's evil plans will not work out and Claudio and Hero will get married. In these two scenes Don Pedro and Claudio decide that Benedick is in love with Beatrice and even though they both have flaws they have been tricked into falling in love with each other even though they both swore they would never marry and fall in love. I think next that somehow Conrade and Borachio won't escape but Don John will go on with his plan alone and Claudio and Hero will not find about Don John's involvement in the plot until right before it is too late.

Discussion Question: What do you think will happen to Conrade and Borachio? Do you think that Don  John will still continue his plan?

Much Ado About Nothing Act 2.3-3.1 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
11 September 2012

Act 2.3-3.1

Summary: In Act 2 Scene 3, Benedick talks to himself and tells himself what kind of women he wants in life and he hides when Don Pedro, Balthasar, and Claudio walk in and talk about how they are going to serenade Hero at her window the next night. Don Pedro and Claudio say that Beatrice is in love with Benedick because they want the hiding Benedick to hear, and how Beatrice is planning to write a letter to Benedick. Benedick falls in love with Beatrice and they plan to have Hero and her servant talk to Beatrice about Benedick. In Act 3 Scene 1, Beatrice overhears Ursula and Hero as they trick her into believing Benedick is in love with her. Beatrice falls in love with Benedick.

Quotation: "She values her wit more highly than anything else, which looks weak by comparison. She’s so in love with herself, she’s incapable of loving anyone else. She can’t even imagine what “love” is."

Quotation Significance: This was said by Hero during their trick in the graden to make Beatrice fall in love with Benedick. They think that she is so in love with herself that she can't love any one else. She can't get past herself to know what love really is.

Reflection: So far, it seems that everyone's trick to make Beatrice and Benedick fall in love is working. They are in love with each other and when they were eavesdropping on Don Pedro and Caludio and Ursula and Beatrice, they realized their own horrible behavior and decide to turn their ways around and the only way to redeem themselves was to be in love with the other person. Benedick realizes that Beatrice has all the virtues of the perfect women, and Beatrices realizes that Benedick is the perfect man. They fall in love with each other to redeem themselves of how they've treated each other and everyone else around them. I hope that they will stay in love, because I think that this way everyone will be happy. 

Discussion Question: Do you think that Benedick and Beatrice will stay in love and figure out what everyone else did to trick them?

Much Ado About Nothing Act 2.1-2.2 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
September 10, 2012

Act 2.1-2.2

Summary: In Act 2 Scene 1, Beatrice tells the family she doesn't want to ever get married and the masquerade ball is set-up and couples dance, the Prince woos Hero and Don John goes up to Claudio (in a mask thinking he is Benedick) and asks him to appeal to appeal to the prince to have Claudio marry Hero. Claudio thinks the Prince is stealing Hero, and Beatrice dances with Benedick not knowing it's him. Claudio and Hero are going to get married and everyone agrees to try to match Benedick and Beatrice together. In Act 2 Scene 2,  Borachio and Don John prepare to destroy Claudio and Hero's marriage. They plan to have Margaret stand at the window at an indecent hour with Borachio pretending to be Hero and Claudio to prove to the prince that Hero is a whore.

Quotation: "If we can do this, then we will steal Cupid’s glory. We will be the supreme love gods! Come inside with me, and I will tell you my plan."

Quotation Significance:  Don Pedro (Prince) says this after Benedick and Beatrice leave. They all believe that they can match Beatrice and Benedick together, even though Beatrice has promised to never marry, and they both fight so much. Because of their differences and clashing personalities, to match them up together sucessfully they would steal Cupid's pride.

Reflection: So far, this play has been very intriguing and exciting. Claudio and Hero are together, but the threat of Don John and Borachio is looming over them. I hope that since this play is not a tragedy that they will figure out what is going on and stop Don John. Benedick and Beatrice seem like an unlikely match, but sometimes when a man and woman fight it means they like each other. I hope that this is the case. They both seem like very nice people who tend to bring out the worst in each other.

Discussion Question: Why do Benedick and Beatrice's personalities clash so much?

Much Ado About Nothing Act 1.1 Litblog

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
9/5/12

Act 1 Scene 1

Summary: Deonato is having Don Pedro of Aragon and his soldiers stay at his home for a month. One of the soldiers, Claudio, loves Deonato's daughter Hero and Don Pedro plans to put on a mask at the upcoming ball and pretend to be Claudio and tell Hero his feelings. Another soldier, Benedick, and Deonato's niece, Beatrice have a battle of wits and Beatrice talks about how much she hates Benedick.

Quotation: "With anger, with sickness, or with hunger, my lord, not with love. Prove that ever I lose more blood with love than I will get again with drinking, pick out mine eyes with a ballad-maker’s pen and hang me up at the door of a brothel house for the sign of blind Cupid."

Quotation Significance: Benedick says this after finding out Claudio is in love with Hero. Benedick is saying that be sick with anything other than love and you will turn out okay. Love to him is a disease and something to be avoided. Benedick also says that if he ever gets lovesick to hurt him until he comes back to his senses.

Reflection: This chapter was very interesting. It gave me an insight into the character's emotions and feelings. Beatrice is confused and she doesn't know what to think of Benedick, and probably doesn't realize that most likely is in love with him. Hero is calm, collected and much more mature than Beatrice and has a deep wisdom Beatrice does not. She doesn't yet know Claudio's feelings for her. Benedick is afraid to fall in love, he pretends he doesn't like women but this is most likely an act to cover up his true feelings. Don Pedro is ready to help and assist Claudio in his love life. This story has gotten off to a great start, and I believe that Claudio and Hero will get together and hopefully Benedick and Beatrice.

Question: What do you think is the real reason Benedick doesn't show his true feelings?

Raisin In The Sun Litblogs

Mary Ann MacDonald
Period 5
August 22, 2012

Act 1 Scene 1

Summary: The story starts off with Ruth and Walter getting in a fight and Travis asks for fifty cents for school money. Walter wants to open up and invest in a liquor and everyone is excited about an upcoming paycheck,  Bennie wants to be a doctor and might have to use the money from Mama's paycheck to pay for college. Bennie says God isn't real and Mama slaps here and makes her say that God is real.

Quotation: "Mama, you don't understand. It's all a matter of ideas, and God is just one idea I don't accept. It's not important...It's just that I get tired of Him getting credit for all the things the human race achieves through its own stubborn effort... there is only man and it is he who makes miracles!" (51).

Quotation Significance: Bennie says this because she is frustrated she doesn't get credit for all her hard work and the things she does and she decides to blame God for this. She doesn't realize if she is determined and works hard she will succeed.

Reflection:  The Youngers seem tired, worn-down, and sad. Their house and their lifestyle shows this. Ruth feels especially depressed and tries not to rub it off on Travis but I think she does and Travis and Walter notice this. Walter is obsessed with money, and Ruth wants to help him but appears stand-offish. Bennie wants to be a doctor but she feels nothing is working out the way she wanted it to and no one understands.  Mama just wants a cute house with a garden she has always dreamed of. All in all, this is a sad family, but with hope for the future.

Discussion Question: Why does Ruth act like she doesn't care about Walter when she is with him and later ask favors for him from Mama?

Act 2 Scene 1

Summary: Walter and Ruth perform a ceremonial Nigerian dance and George walks in on them and makes fun of Ruth and gets angry at Walter when he says some comments about George's appearance.  Walter and Ruth talk about money and their relationship, and Mama walks in to tell them that she bought a house. Walter gets upset because the money wasn't put toward his dream.

Quotation: "You run our lives like you want to. It was your money and you did what you wanted with it. So what you need for me to say it was alright for? So you butchered up a dream of mine-you- who always talking 'bout your children's dreams..."(95).

Quotation Significance: After hearing that Mama bought a house, Walter is angry because his dream was to invest in something, and be someone. He wants to be different from all the other black people in this time. He wants to own something and prove he doesn't need his Mama around to help him.

Reflection: The stakes are even higher in this scene.  Some key things are announced about the characters' feelings and desires. Obviously, Beneatha wants her life to be different and wants to go back to her roots in Africa and is starting to feel angry towards George. Ruth feels helpless and she feels she can't help her family like she always wished she could. Mama buys them a house because this was her dream and she doesn't want Ruth to go through with the abortion.  Travis feels stressed and just wants the normal things everyday kids want.  Walter wants to help his family and making a living but he has to rely on Mama and this makes him upset. He doesn't want to tell Ruth to have an abortion but he is afraid there is no other choice.

Discussion Question:  Why doesn't Walter appreciate everything Mama and Ruth do for him?

Act 2 Scene 2

Summary:  Beneatha tells Mama she thinks George is a fool, and Mama actually agrees with her and Beneatha is deeply touched like this. Mrs. Johnson comes over and after she leaves with coffee and food, Walter walks in and the family finds out he hasn't been to work for three days. Mama gives him 3000 dollars for investing and 3000 to Beneatha for college, Walter is ecstatic and promises good times to Travis.

Quotation: "You just name it, son... and I hand you the world!"(109).

Quotation Significance:  Walter says this to Travis and he means that he will give everything in the world to Travis. He feels this way because Mama gave him money for his investment, finally Walter won't have a reason to be sad and he is so happy he will be able to help his family and be someone.

Reflection:  In this scene, Beneatha and Mama are finally starting to agree on something and there is hope for the family. Walter gets his investment money and Beneatha gets money for college, and the will soon be moving to Clybourne Park. Walter promises Travis  any school and job he wants and Ruth won't have to have an abortion. Beneatha feels great about Asagai but thinks that George is a fool and doesn't want everything to be about sexual attraction, but also about feelings. But George disagrees. Overall , emotions are improving in this family and they are looking forward to what the future will bring for them. 

Discussion Question:  Do you think the Youngers will be able to adjust to life in Clybourne Park?

Act 2 Scene 3

Summary: Walter and Ruth are dancing when a man named Mr. Lindner shows up and tells them he will give them the money for the house in Clybourne Park and some extra money for them to move to a different neighborhood. They refuse and Mama opens a gift of garden tools and a hat from the whole family. Bobo arrives telling him that Willy never showed up to go to Springfield to spread out their money before the get their liquor license, Willy stole all the money- including Beneatha's college money. Mama hits Walter and the scene ends with the whole family upset.

Quotation: "Strength!" (130).

Quotation Significance: Even though this quote  is only one word, this one word tells exactly what the Youngers need to have at this moment and what will save them. They need to have strength to move into the all-white neighborhood, to find out how to get their money back, and how to stay together as a family.

Reflection: After the money getting stolen and Mr. Lidner, the Youngers are pretty stressed about how the future and what will come. The Youngers are planning still to move to Clybourne park, but they are worried on how they will fit into the nieghborhood- especially because they are not wanted there. Travis doesn't know what has happened and he has been troubled with the tensions between his parents. Beneatha already has enough troubles with George and she just know discovered she has no money to go to college. Obviously, this is a hard time for the Youngers but I believe they will pull though it and make it out okay.

Discussion Question: How do you think the Youngers will adjust into life at Clybourne Park?