Glengarry Glen Ross

I enjoyed the movie more so than the book. I think this is because there is so much interrupting of one another’s sentences that it became a little difficult for me to follow at times.

I think that although the women are not physically present, they play a huge role in the play. The men talk and act like they’re powerful and brutal. In the scene where Mr. Lingk comes to the office to speak to Roma, it is quite apparent that he is not there to negotiate. He is there on one solid mission and that is to cancel the deal because his wife told him to. Roma seems to know why Lingk is there because it’s obviously written all over Lingk’s face that he is having doubts. Lingk’s expression on his face also looks very apologetic and slightly fearful. Roma trys to buy time and tries to leave without making it obvious, but Lingk blurts out, “My wife said I have to cancel the deal” (page 82). He also mentions to Roma that his wife controls their business deals, not him, making her the powerful and dominating figure. In other words, she wears the pants in the relationship.

Levene’s “daughter” is also another example of a strong feminine character, even though she, too, never appears. I doubted at first if she really existed. I thought that Levene tried to use his “daughter” as a potential sob story to try to keep his job. But in the scenes showed in class, Levene was trying to get in touch with his daughter. I think that Levene’s daughter symbolized a strong motivation for him to try to break his bad streak. I also think that he went along with Moss’ plan to steal and sell the leads to Jerry Graff and to pocket the money for his daughter. So in the end, Levene thought he was coming out on top. He had “closed” the deal with the Nyborgs and he had made a profit from selling the leads to Jerry Graff. But instead, Levene lost everything.

Although the women are not physically present, they hold a strong effect on the characters.

King Lear response

I do not particularly enjoy Shakespeare due to my struggle with interpreting the language he uses, even though he is indeed, Shakespeare. However, I did enjoy King Lear. I thought it was plainly arrogant on Lear’s part how he decided to divide his land between his daughters solely on how much each daughter “says” they love him. Actions speak a lot louder than words in my opinion, and I think he should have challenged them a little more, perhaps even more discreetly.

I liked how Cordelia refused to profess her love for her father and says, “I cannot heave my heart in my mouth” (page 4). While her other sisters say they love their father more than words can express, Cordelia is the only one who actually does not use words to express her affection for the king.

The absence of a mother plays an important part in the play. The readers have no insight on the queen; she is simply not mentioned. The king does not have a wife and the daughters do not have a mother figure. Goneril and Regan only have their husbands, which whom probably made them even more hungry for power and status. Cordelia on the other hand, is the only daughter and sister unwed. She only has her sisters and her father. She is the only one who seems feminine. Goneril possesses “masculine” qualities in her scheming and plotting against her own father, her sister, and even her husband. Cordelia is the only one who is pure. Perhaps Lear did know this about his youngest daughter and that is why she is also his favorite.

Cordelia is everything that Lear is not. She is sensitive and motherly and feminine. Lear is prideful and arrogant and unmoving. Lear is the king, and he knows his standards. Cordelia and her father are complete opposites, but they complemented each other’s personalities. Yet, Lear banishes her when she does not express her love for him in words. I think he did this because he expected much more from his favorite daughter, and he did not know what to make of her silence, though she is the only one who truly means it.

It is only when he sees his daughter again, Lear allows his feminine side to come forth. He begs Cordelia to forgive him, something he would never have done in the past when he was king. He does not beg forgiveness as a former king; Lear speaks strictly on a father daughter standpoint. I think that Lear thought there was somewhat of himself or his two evil daughter’s personality in Cordelia when he expected her to want to kill him. I think he truly realizes how pure of heart she is and how much she loves him when she simply forgives him. She does not want to kill her father, unlike her sisters. Lear had a problem letting his feminine side show, especially to his own family, and that resulted in many deaths and deceits.

Persepolis

I really enjoyed reading a graphic novel; it was a nice change. Persepolis was an easy read and it was also quite humorous, as well as touching. I enjoyed the movie as well, especially the contrast between the black and white scenes and the colored scenes. I thought that was very creative.

Question: “Politics and sentiment don’t mix.”

I agree with Marjane’s father when he says, “Politics and sentiment don’t mix.” I think that Marjane and the women in her family believe that as well. However, it doesn’t mean that politics and sentiment don’t come hand in hand. The war and the revolution has a great effect on Marjane and her family. When Marjane is younger, she is not 100% aware of the situation between her country and her parent’s political actions. Her family fought against the Shah by completely disobeying the law. Her parents drank wine and held parties and allowed Marjane to wear Western clothing and listen to rock music. They raised her to stand for what she believed in, even at the risk of being arrested or killed.

Politics and sentiment never mix well together, but the politics of Iran greatly affected Marjane and her family’s emotions. I think that Marjane’s father wanted to believe that politics and emotions are not suppose to comingle, but I don’t think he quite believed that himself. The war and the revolution had a huge impact on the Satrap’is lifestyle. Even with the deaths of so many loved ones, including Marjane’s uncle and grandfather, they tried their best to carry on living their lives in revolt. They still disobeyed the laws. I think they did this partially in a way so that their loved ones did not lie in vain. The Satrapi family is very proud. I think that Marjane’s father was trying to persuade himself and his family that you should not get your feelings and emotions so caught up in the war because the world is the way it is. But that’s pretty much an impossible standard to live by when so many of the people in your life are affected by the revolution.

When Marjane goes to Europe, she is told to never forget where she comes from and who she is. The war back home has made her who she is, so yes, the war has a huge impact on her lifestyle and her outlooks on the world, as well as life itself. While in Europe, she had trouble making friends at first because of the cultural differences. When she returns home, Marjane is reminded of exactly that difference. Even with the end of the war, the aftermath effect is the same for her and her family. So many people she knew have been murdered or killed, and it’s something she’s most certainly never going to forget.

The Moviegoer

I enjoyed this novel. It was interesting to read from a cynical and unbelieving standpoint and to understand Binx's struggle to find the meaning of his existence.

Question: What is the resolution of the story? Does Binx finally find the answer to his search?

I do not think Binx truly finds the "answer" to his problems. In the end of the novel, his aunt asks him, "What do you love? What do you live by?" Binx has no response because he is still unsure. Yes, he ends up marrying the only woman he truly has respect for, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't have settled for anything less than Kate either. Binx still looks for Sharon, although he is well aware of the fact that she is engaged. Although he cares for Kate, I think Binx only truly cares about himself and his needs. He also tries to persue Sharon's roommate, when Kate is late meeting him. I don't think his marrying Kate helped him discover the answer to his struggles. Their marriage provided a sense of security and a comfort blanket for both Binx and Kate. Binx feels secure in their relationship because he knows Kate depends on him, but I don't think that idea in itself is what Binx was looking to discover. On page 234, Kate says to Binx, "I am frightened when I am alone and I am frightened when I am with people. The only time I am not frightened is when I'm with you. You'll have to be with me a great deal." Binx is the only person Kate trusts with her life, and Kate is the only woman Binx can tolerate. He grows tired of his secretaries, but it is different with Kate. I think the only reason Binx still searches for Sharon is because Sharon has an obstacle: she is engaged. All the other secretaries fade out. He holds a special bond with Kate.

I think that even if Binx was happy, he would still find something to complain about. He would still hope for something extraordinary to happen to change his life. Binx's main problem was the malaise, the every day life routine. Binx fails to realize that there is no escaping the malaise. Life becomes a malaise; it devours you and you become a prisoner of your own life. He expects something grand to happen all the time and change his day to day routine. But what about the next day? And the day after that? Eventually, everything will settle back into it's normal routine.

Question: Digest Binx and Aunt Emily's relationship.

Binx has a great deal of respect for his aunt. She is the mother he basically never had. I think that Aunt Emily understands Binx's struggles. She demands he go to medical school maybe because she knows it will give him a purpose. All throughout Binx's life, he has had to deal with death. First, the loss of his older brother, Scott. Then the death of his father, followed by the "abandonment" of his mother. At the end of the novel, Lonnie dies from infection and Aunt Emily also loses her husband. I think that Aunt Emily's suggestion for medical school for Binx will help him find peace and meaning in helping others overcome some of their struggles.