Aaliyah

Taming of the Shrew MOR: Part 1 What do you think is Shakespeare’s point in writing this whole play?  Also, it seems awfully suspicious that this noble man was perfectly willing to not only house this drunkard, but also give him the opportunity to ruin all of his nice things.  Could they really not find a lady willing to play the part of the wife?  (I really don’t blame her, but still).  Great save by the page here though, when Sly said “'Tis much. —Servants, leave me and her alone. / Madam, undress you and come now to bed” (Introduction, Scene 2, Lines 99-100).  That would have been one really quick way to end their little joke.  Dude tries anything and finds out that his wife isn’t exactly a woman.  How awkward must that have been while they were watching the play, trying to keep that facade up in hope the drunk doesn’t notice.  Alternatively, they could have just let him freeze to death.  T...

Ajax, part 4, in response to Riess part 4 Is Tecmessa breaking the fourth wall here? TECMESSA 'Tis thine to surmise, mine to feel, too surely. I think that Odysseus is trying to break out of the stigma here, everyone thinks he is going to be a jerk to the dead.  I think that Odysseus has seen enough gods/goddesses that he’s  super  superstitious about these kinds of things.  Odysseus seems to like to play it safe, and I really don’t blame him.   So why was Ajax’s plan for his son to go to his parents’ house?  Teucer seems convinced that they will reject him.  Or is he talking about himself here?  It’s hard to tell. What will he keep back? What taunt not hurl forth  Against the bastard of a spear-won slave,  Him who through craven cowardice betrayed  Thee, beloved Ajax-or by guile, that so  I might inherit thy kingdom and thy house.  So will he speak, a passionate...

Ajax MOR part 3 in response to Riess part 3 I think that Ajax just annoyed Athena and she wanted to stay in the place of the hero.  If she can fix the problem and protect her people, then who cares if it was her that caused it in the first place?  Either way, Athena gets to look like the hero and be revered more.  I think that the army itself will be a bit of a loose cannon, and they might want to kill him (even though he’s already dead).  I think that the leaders of the army will see him in a more forgiving light, however. They already seem to be willing to work with Ajax, and really don’t want him to kill himself just yet at least.  They seem to be concerned about his wellbeing, not just the wellbeing of those around him.  Do you think Tecmessa will also kill herself as she promised to earlier?  Will Ajax give her crap in the underworld if she does?  If she doesn’t?   Ajax: And fa...

Ajax MOR part 2 in response to Riess I think that right now Tecmessa is just trying to get the best out of the situation.  She realizes that she has no protection for her or her son apart from Ajax and knows that very bad things could happened to them both. Tecmessa: Doom me not to the cruel taunts of those Who hate thee, left a bond-slave in strange hands. For shouldst thou perish and forsake me in death, That very day assuredly I to Shall be seized by the Argives, with thy son To endure henceforth the portion of a slave. Then one of my new masters with barbed words Shall wound me scoffing: "See the concubine Of Ajax, who was mightiest of the host, What servile tasks are hers who lived so daintily!" Thus will men speak, embittering my hard lot, But words of shame for thee and for thy race. Nay, piety forbid thee to forsake Thy father in his drear old age-thy mother With her sad weight of years, who many a time Prays to the gods that thou come home alive. ...

Ajax, in response to Riess, part 1 I certainly agree that it has started out very eventfully.  I think that Tecmessa is just terrified of Ajax, and it makes sense.  She didn’t exactly get to choose whether or not she wanted to marry him, she’s a prisoner.  I think she has every reason to avoid telling Ajax, and I don’t think he has a good reason to be mad at her.  I think that Athena was just trying to protect Odysseus and his army.  I wonder how far into the future Athena can see.  Does she know for a fact that Ajax won’t hurt Odysseus?  And why does Ajax think that Athena would support him in this endeavor?  He does know that Odysseus is like her favorite person ever, so why doesn’t the sudden switch trigger some alarm bells?  I think that Athena sort of sees Odysseus as her pet, a favorite servant if you will.  Like a gladiator and his patron.  She really likes his wit, ...

In response to Alex's fourth comment (Spoilers for the rest of the book)             I know!  I feel that the writer did a really good job on this book.  It is told from such a different perspective that it sticks out and makes you remember it more.  I was definitely nervous when Lily “didn’t pay attention to the knock.  Later I would remember it didn’t sound like an ordinary knock.  More like a fist pounding” (289).               I guess I’ll start with what I thought it did well.  In the ending, when Lily finally is accepted by the Daughters (and Son), I think it was a very well portrayed and powerful moment, when everything is at odds, they still have their sister’s back.  Even though she’s white.             ...

In response to Alex's second comment (Spoilers through chapter 12) I think it will, Lily will become a writer and take over the bee keeping business while she waits for Zach to finish becoming a lawyer and going back to her.  Do you think they’ll end up together?  I hope so.  It seems August has more compassion and insight than we first thought, she seems really nice, and I’m glad that June has come around to Lily too.  It’s really sad that May died :(  she seemed to be the one who Rosaleen was connecting with most.  She seemed to be filling the place that April left, but now she has to fill the place that May left.  But on a happier note, I’m really glad June is finally getting married!  Yay! I think the end will definitely have something to do with T Ray hunting her down, as scary as that sounds.  What breaks my heart most is that when Lily calls, he makes it all about himself, he’s to sing...