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“Is this a dagger which I see before me,”

-Macbeth by William Shakespeare

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“I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right” - The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I’d like to think that once my time here on Earth has finished, that I will have some historic legacy. But the simple fact is, I won’t. It’s true.

Instead. My words will be my footprint.

The words that you make noise with and the words you keep silent are what essentially make you. They may not always contribute to how you are physically perceived by others, yet they form your spiritual self. The self that impacts the world. Your own world-as well as the worlds of others.

We may not always have nice words. As my mother always liked to say “If you haven’t got anything nice to say-then don’t say anything at all”. I’ve never considered the morality of this statement. It accepts that we may not always agree with others or particularly “like” something. It acknowledges the antagonistic nature of life. But rather integrates that sometimes our words aren’t needed in the story.  

Our words form our stories. Our words create the setting of others.

And dear God... may my words be right.

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“Spotty-handed Villainesses”

As humans we ache for meaning. Whether that is to change the world or simply leave a footprint- the need for purpose lurks within our reasons.

So then why do we promote such underwhelming, two-dimensional characters that falsify our creativity in behaviour?

This is the question that arose in my head during my reading of Margaret Atwood’s speech.

The text is a multifaceted proposal into the nature on how we present characters in stories, specifically in the case of female characters. Opposing the hyper-feminist views that all women should be presented as strong and ambiguous in texts, Atwood seems to approach the idea that females should be able to be portrayed as strong but also be able to be shown as weak. It rather approaches the role of women in texts, in how women are developed, not necessarily what they are created into. As many classical texts present two dimensional female characters (that are commonly weak and helpless), that are either good or bad. Whichever fits the plot.

The reasoning as to why people act is vital in their development in being a holistic character. Why are the bad people bad? The missed inclusivity of reason undermines a characters purpose. Can we empathise with the witch that lost her family as a child because of the community, now seeking revenge on the involved-or is she simply just wicked?

Allow your characters to be multidimensional, let them have reason.

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Life Update

it appears that my path has changed as I am now pursuing a career in English teaching

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The Message

“Maybe everyone can live beyond what they’re capable of”

This proposal from the novel {The Messenger} by Markus Zusak is one that I view has great power.

Its indecisive/uncertain tone illuminates to the reader the hopeful possibility that people can be better. If the quote was rather the statement: “everyone can live beyond what they’re capable of”, the fundamental essence of the message would not be conveyed. 

That we might have the potential to be better. This realistic approach opposes the entirely fictional concept of a “happy ending” and allows for the human experience of hope to be conveyed. It alludes to the idea that as humans we may or even may not be able to be more. Yet, this approach still has impact as it calls upon one to seek the answer. 

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1984

A classical piece that features the modern-dystopian avalanche that is slowly impeding onto our complacent society.

The text encapsulates the fear of development that the author’s society had of the future. It opposes the modern concept that people are hopeful for further developments in society, and rather ironically comments on this by proposing the negative effect of development. Hence, almost predicting the nature of the current society as being complacent and “in the dark”.

Following Winston, our failed protagonist. As he slowly attempts to move away from the conformity of society, is met with the prosecution of the anomaly. It is too late to break away from the norm, as the norm is governed by capital punishment.

Its comment on current society (that fits so ironically perfectly) that was once just a “story”, can now be seen as the foreshadowing of a generation. Not one riddled with the “negative” effects of fanatic communism (as the original interpretation satirically proposed), but rather the conformity of a society to society. Instead of being a community of individuals.

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Seriously thinking of becoming an English Teacher at this point

Maybe not depending on my Trial results

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Integrity of a text

The integrity of a text is as deep as one’s understanding of it.

I think one of my biggest “pet peeves” would have to be when people undermine the integrity of a text, when they have not acknowledged the fundamental meaning/purpose of a text. Rather taking a literal stance.

Understandably, some may only derive a literal meaning due to the individuals own perspective and worldviews that characterise their interpretation. This “pet peeve” is more so towards when people dismiss a text’s value due to them “not being bothered” to read it. Then assuming once proposed a question that they don’t like it and that it has no moral benefit. 

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Shakespeare

Endless soliloquy's once seemed tedious. The classic language structure was hard to understand.

Yet after many sleepless nights memorising his words, I have realised the uncanny depth and poetic deliverance of plot is something I will miss. Realistically, when will I ever read/analyse Shakespeare again? 

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Obvious themes

After never studying the concept of reconciliation in a duo-text study and getting an essay on it, I’m kinda mad. Whether it is because the question stumped me or just because I never realised its clear theme within the texts, is yet unknown.