Here's a short excerpt from my independent study essay that I wrote on Snow Falling on Cedars. The whole essay applied to my big question, so I figured I'd just post from there.
"Snow Falling on Cedars is, in the end, an intricate love story. Whether between Hatsue and Kabuo, Carl Heine and his wife, Ishmael and Hatsue or Ishmael and his mother, love runs deep and true despite the overriding chaos. Storms of every sort bring disorder, but in understanding and accepting their inevitability something greater grows out of the destruction. The tragedies of circumstance ultimately afford us the greatest possibility of all—the chance to render a terrible world beautiful."
Monday, January 14, 2008
Ghosts/Summer Ind. Study Response
For my required book, I read Kite Runner, and trust me, I feel just as unoriginal as the rest of the class. It was worth the read, though. I recommend it just as much as everyone else. Furthermore, if you're one of the many Kite Runner fans in the class, I highly recommend The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay. It's a powerfully uplifting book that paints a vivid and eye-opening picture of South Africa. And it's a double plus because the story is brilliantly crafted and written.
Anyway, I was under the impression that we had to read two books of our choice until Emily Morgan informed me we had to read Ghosts. My second book was going to be Cold Mountain and I still plan to read it. Since intention is half of an action, I think that should count for something. But other than Ghosts, I didn't read any other books--not even Harry Potter. Shocking, I know. I did, however, read a collection of poems throughout the summer from Poem a Day: Volume 3. I got up to August 17 and then the book disappeared, which I'm still immensely upset about. I recently discovered for myself that poetry is soul food, and currently I am very hungry.
Anyway, I was under the impression that we had to read two books of our choice until Emily Morgan informed me we had to read Ghosts. My second book was going to be Cold Mountain and I still plan to read it. Since intention is half of an action, I think that should count for something. But other than Ghosts, I didn't read any other books--not even Harry Potter. Shocking, I know. I did, however, read a collection of poems throughout the summer from Poem a Day: Volume 3. I got up to August 17 and then the book disappeared, which I'm still immensely upset about. I recently discovered for myself that poetry is soul food, and currently I am very hungry.
Oedipus Rex Response
What role does emotion play in gaining wisdom through creative creation?
As for Oedipus Rex, here's a quote to ponder: "The greatest griefs are those we cause ourselves" (line 1186).
Trajedies, great and small, play a large role in shaping us. I know they effect me; at the very least they grab my attention. But trajedy is not all bad. For me, emotional pain is redeemed by the knowledge I gain from it. Perhaps the greatest trajedy is when we refuse to see what the world offers us, when we become blind as Oedipus did. What happens when we turn off emotion? When we turn a blind eye to the bad in hopes of seeing only the good?
As for Oedipus Rex, here's a quote to ponder: "The greatest griefs are those we cause ourselves" (line 1186).
Trajedies, great and small, play a large role in shaping us. I know they effect me; at the very least they grab my attention. But trajedy is not all bad. For me, emotional pain is redeemed by the knowledge I gain from it. Perhaps the greatest trajedy is when we refuse to see what the world offers us, when we become blind as Oedipus did. What happens when we turn off emotion? When we turn a blind eye to the bad in hopes of seeing only the good?
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